🔗 Share this article

Previous FBI director James the former director has pleaded not guilty to giving untrue testimony to lawmakers and impeding a lawmaking procedure.

The former director's lawyer filed the response acting as his counsel in a US district court in Alexandria, Virginia on mid-week.

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

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

Legal Proceedings

At the proceedings on mid-week, Comey's lawyer the legal representative told the court they aimed to file several motions to throw out the proceedings before a trial, claiming the legal action was retaliatory and that a US attorney was improperly appointed to assume control of the case.

Mr Comey's legal matter was first handled by the original attorney, who left his position under pressure from Trump after his probe into an additional opponent - New York Attorney General Letitia James - failed to initiate prosecution.

Courtroom Atmosphere

Mr Comey seemed in optimistic frame of mind as he came into the courtroom on Wednesday, conversing with his attorneys and being lighthearted. He was joined by his wife, his wife and daughter his daughter, a federal prosecutor who the former government recently fired.

After listening to the magistrate read his legal protections and the dual charges against him in the courtroom on Wednesday, James Comey was asked if he understood the charges.

"Yes your honour. Thank you," he informed the judge.

Historical Information

James Comey was the FBI Director from 2013 to 2017 and was dismissed about several months into Donald Trump's initial presidency as president. At the time, he was overseeing an investigation into Russian election interference and whether there were any links between Moscow and the election effort.

During his tenure, James Comey sparked a backlash from liberal politicians when he declared just shortly prior to the 2016 election that he was probing Democratic candidate the candidate's use of a personal email system. Legal actions against the candidate were not pursued, causing criticism from the Republican party as well.

Ongoing Accusations

Government attorneys allege James Comey lied to the legislature during a legislative proceeding in September 2020 when he was being questioned about both the email probe as well as the foreign influence inquiry. They allege he provided false information to the upper house by saying he had not approved someone at the agency to leak to media organizations data about the FBI investigations.

Government lawyers also charge Mr Comey of "wrongfully trying to influence, hinder and delay" the committee by giving misleading testimony to it.

Personal Comments

In a video Mr Comey published to his Instagram after he was accused, he declared he was innocent and charged Trump of behaving like a "dictator".

"My family and I have known for a long time that there are costs to challenging Mr Trump," he commented. "We refuse to live on our bended knee."

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

These allegations against James Comey came after Trump shared on digital channels demanding his chief prosecutor, Pam Bondi, take legal action against James Comey and others.