🔗 Share this article

Ex- Federal Bureau of Investigation head James Comey has denied the charges to giving untrue testimony to lawmakers and obstructing a lawmaking procedure.

Mr Comey's lawyer entered the response representing him in a US district court in Alexandria, Virginia on mid-week.

Patrick Fitzgerald declared he would seek to have the legal matter dismissed for several reasons including that his defendant, a detractor of President Donald Trump, was being selectively prosecuted.

The former director was indicted shortly after the former president urged his top legal official to proceed against him.

Judicial Process

At the proceedings on mid-week, Comey's lawyer Patrick Fitzgerald advised the magistrate they planned to file multiple petitions to terminate the proceedings before a court case, stating the prosecution was spiteful and that a federal prosecutor was wrongfully assigned to take over the case.

James Comey's case was originally handled by a Virginia prosecutor, who stepped down under influence from Trump after his probe into a different opponent - the New York official - did not succeed to bring criminal charges.

Courtroom Atmosphere

Mr Comey came across in positive mood as he entered the court on mid-week, conversing with his attorneys and sharing humor. He was accompanied by his wife, his wife and offspring Maureen Comey, a US lawyer who the former government terminated.

Following the reading to the magistrate state his legal protections and the pair of allegations against him in the courtroom on Wednesday, James Comey was questioned if he understood the accusations.

"Yes your honour. Thank you," he stated to the judge.

Previous Events

James Comey was the head of the FBI from 2013 to 2017 and was terminated about several months into Trump's initial presidency as national leader. At the moment, the director was leading an probe into international campaign influence and whether there were any links between the Russian government and the presidential campaign.

During his tenure, James Comey triggered a counter-response from the Democratic party when he declared just shortly prior to the national vote that he was probing presidential nominee the candidate's use of a non-governmental email account. Legal actions against Clinton were not pursued, resulting in disapproval from conservative politicians as well.

Ongoing Accusations

The federal government claim Mr Comey lied to the legislature during a legislative proceeding in 2020 when he was being examined about both the Clinton investigation as well as the foreign influence inquiry. They say he deceived the legislative body by claiming he had not permitted a person at the FBI to leak to media organizations information about the FBI investigations.

Legal representatives also accuse James Comey of "corruptly endeavoring to sway, obstruct and impede" the committee by giving misleading testimony to it.

Public Statements

In a video the former director published to his online platform after he was accused, he stated he was not guilty and accused the former president of behaving like a "tyrant".

"We have known for years that there are ramifications to challenging Mr Trump," he said. "We refuse to live on our kneeling."

"I'm innocent," he added. "Thus initiate a trial."

The charges against Mr Comey emerged after Trump published on social media insisting on his attorney general, Pam Bondi, charge Mr Comey and other people.