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Ex- Federal Bureau of Investigation head James the ex-FBI chief has pleaded not guilty to making false statements to lawmakers and impeding a congressional proceeding.

Mr Comey's legal representative entered the answer acting as his counsel in a US district court in Alexandria, Virginia on Wednesday morning.

Patrick Fitzgerald announced he would seek to have the case dismissed for several factors including that his the accused, a critic of Donald Trump, was being singled out.

James Comey was formally accused soon after Trump pressured his top legal official to proceed against him.

Court Developments

At the proceedings on mid-week, the defense counsel Patrick Fitzgerald advised the judge they intended to submit various petitions to dismiss the case before a legal hearing, stating the prosecution was spiteful and that a federal prosecutor was improperly designated to handle the proceedings.

Mr Comey's proceedings was originally overseen by the original attorney, who left his position under scrutiny from Trump after his investigation into a different rival - the New York official - did not succeed to initiate prosecution.

Legal Setting

The former director appeared in positive mood as he walked into the legal venue on mid-week, conversing with his lawyers and sharing humor. He was accompanied by his spouse, his wife and offspring Maureen, a federal prosecutor who the former government recently fired.

Upon hearing to the court recite his legal protections and the two counts against him in the courtroom on Wednesday, the defendant was inquired if he grasped the charges.

"I do your honour. Thank you very much," he stated to the judge.

Historical Information

Mr Comey was the head of the FBI from 2013 to 2017 and was dismissed about several months into the former president's initial presidency as national leader. At the moment, the director was leading an examination into international campaign influence and whether there were any relationships between the Russian government and the election effort.

While in office, James Comey triggered a backlash from the Democratic party when he stated just shortly prior to the 2016 election that he was probing presidential nominee Hillary Clinton's use of a non-governmental email account. Indictments against the candidate were not pursued, leading to criticism from conservative politicians as well.

Ongoing Accusations

The federal government claim Mr Comey gave untrue statements to the legislature during a congressional hearing in September 2020 when he was being examined about both the email probe as well as the Russia election probe. They say he deceived the legislative body by stating he had not approved an individual at the agency to leak to news outlets details about the government examinations.

Prosecutors also allege Mr Comey of "corruptly endeavoring to influence, obstruct and delay" the panel by making false statements to it.

Public Statements

In a video Mr Comey published to his Instagram after he was charged, he said he was not guilty and alleged the former president of acting like a "autocrat".

"My family and I have understood for years that there are costs to challenging the former president," he commented. "We refuse to live on our bended knee."

"I am not guilty," he stated further. "Therefore proceed with a court case."

The accusations against James Comey emerged after Donald Trump posted on social media insisting on his top legal official, Pam Bondi, prosecute James Comey and others.