Previous Federal Bureau of Investigation Head James Comey Enters Innocent Plea to Charges of Misleading US Legislators

Ex- Federal Bureau of Investigation head James Comey has denied the charges to providing misleading information to US legislators and impeding a congressional proceeding.

His attorney entered the answer on his behalf in a US district court in the Virginia city of Alexandria on Wednesday morning.

The defense lawyer announced he would try to have the legal matter dismissed for several reasons including that his the accused, a critic of Donald Trump, was being selectively prosecuted.

Mr Comey was formally accused shortly after Trump urged his chief prosecutor to proceed against him.

Legal Proceedings

During the hearing on Wednesday, his attorney the legal representative informed the judge they intended to present multiple petitions to throw out the case before a trial, stating the government's case was retaliatory and that a US attorney was wrongfully assigned to take over the legal matter.

James Comey's legal matter was originally handled by the original attorney, who resigned under influence from Trump after his examination into a different political adversary - New York Attorney General Letitia James - failed to bring criminal charges.

Judicial Environment

The former director appeared in optimistic frame of mind as he came into the court on Wednesday, chatting with his lawyers and making jokes. He was joined by his wife, his wife and daughter Maureen Comey, a US lawyer who the former government recently fired.

After listening to the court read his rights and the pair of allegations against him in legal proceedings on Wednesday, the defendant was asked if he understood the charges.

"I do your honour. Thank you," he stated to the proceedings.

Background Context

Mr Comey was the chief of the Federal Bureau of Investigation from 2013 to 2017 and was terminated about a few months into the former president's initial presidency as commander-in-chief. At the period, the director was leading an investigation into Russian election interference and whether there were any links between Moscow and the election effort.

Throughout his leadership, James Comey sparked a backlash from the Democratic party when he announced just shortly prior to the 2016 election that he was investigating presidential nominee the candidate's use of a private email server. Legal actions against Hillary Clinton were not pursued, causing disapproval from the Republican party as well.

Present Charges

The federal government assert the former director gave untrue statements to US lawmakers during a legislative proceeding in 2020 when he was being examined about both the Clinton investigation as well as the Russia election probe. They allege he misled the legislative body by stating he had not permitted a person at the agency to release to journalistic entities details about the government examinations.

Prosecutors also allege the defendant of "wrongfully trying to sway, block and delay" the panel by giving misleading testimony to it.

Public Statements

In a video James Comey posted to his Instagram after he was accused, he said he was wrongly accused and alleged Trump of acting like a "tyrant".

"My family and I have understood for years that there are costs to opposing Donald Trump," he said. "We choose not to live on our kneeling."

"I have done nothing wrong," he added. "Thus initiate a court case."

The accusations against James Comey emerged after Donald Trump posted on digital channels demanding his top legal official, the attorney general, prosecute the former director and other people.