🔗 Share this article

Ex- FBI head James the ex-FBI chief has entered an innocent plea to making false statements to lawmakers and impeding a legislative process.

Mr Comey's lawyer filed the answer representing him in a US district court in Alexandria, Virginia on Wednesday morning.

His attorney declared he would try to have the proceedings terminated for several reasons including that his the accused, a opponent of Donald Trump, was being singled out.

James Comey was indicted soon after Trump urged his chief prosecutor to proceed against him.

Legal Proceedings

During the hearing on mid-week, Comey's lawyer Patrick Fitzgerald advised the judge they intended to submit several motions to dismiss the case before a court case, stating the government's case was spiteful and that a federal prosecutor was improperly appointed to take over the proceedings.

James Comey's proceedings was initially handled by Erik Siebert, who left his position under pressure from Donald Trump after his examination into a different opponent - New York Attorney General Letitia James - did not succeed to initiate prosecution.

Legal Setting

Mr Comey seemed in optimistic frame of mind as he entered the court on mid-week, chatting with his attorneys and sharing humor. He was accompanied by his wife, Patrice Failor and child his daughter, a government attorney who the previous administration terminated.

After listening to the judge state his constitutional guarantees and the pair of allegations against him in legal proceedings on Wednesday, the defendant was inquired if he grasped the accusations.

"Absolutely your honour. Thank you very much," he stated to the proceedings.

Previous Events

James Comey was the FBI Director from 2013 to 2017 and was terminated about several months into Donald Trump's first administration as national leader. At the time, the director was leading an investigation into international campaign influence and whether there were any relationships between the Russian government and the presidential campaign.

Throughout his leadership, the director caused a negative reaction from Democrats when he announced just immediately preceding the 2016 presidential election that he was investigating political contender Clinton's use of a non-governmental email account. Indictments against Clinton were never brought, causing criticism from conservative politicians as well.

Present Charges

Government attorneys claim the former director gave untrue statements to US lawmakers during a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing in recent years when he was being questioned about both the email probe as well as the election interference investigation. They allege he misled the Senate by stating he had not permitted someone at the Federal Bureau of Investigation to disclose to journalistic entities data about the government examinations.

Government lawyers also allege James Comey of "improperly attempting to affect, block and delay" the panel by providing untrue information to it.

Individual Responses

Via social media James Comey published to his social media after he was charged, he declared he was not guilty and alleged Trump of behaving like a "dictator".

"My family and I have been aware for a long time that there are consequences to challenging Donald Trump," he said. "We will not live on our kneeling."

"I'm innocent," he added. "Therefore proceed with a legal proceeding."

These allegations against the former director surfaced after the former president published on online platforms demanding his top legal official, Pam Bondi, prosecute James Comey and other people.