Ex- Federal Bureau of Investigation chief James Comey has entered an innocent plea to giving untrue testimony to lawmakers and hindering a legislative process.
The former director's lawyer filed the answer representing him in a national courtroom in Alexandria, Virginia on mid-week.
The defense lawyer stated he would attempt to have the case dismissed for several reasons including that his the accused, a detractor of President Donald Trump, was being singled out.
James Comey was indicted just days after the former president urged his attorney general to move forward against him.
During the hearing on Wednesday, Comey's lawyer Patrick Fitzgerald advised the magistrate they aimed to present various motions to throw out the case before a trial, stating the prosecution was retaliatory and that a federal prosecutor was improperly assigned to take over the proceedings.
The former director's legal matter was initially overseen by Erik Siebert, who stepped down under influence from Trump after his examination into a different rival - NY AG Letitia James - was unable to initiate prosecution.
Mr Comey appeared in optimistic frame of mind as he came into the courtroom on mid-week, conversing with his attorneys and being lighthearted. He was joined by his wife, Mrs Failor and offspring his daughter, a US lawyer who the former government terminated.
Following the reading to the magistrate state his constitutional guarantees and the pair of allegations against him in court on Wednesday, James Comey was questioned if he comprehended the accusations.
"I do your honour. Thank you," he stated to the proceedings.
The former director was the head of the FBI from four years and was fired about several months into Donald Trump's initial presidency as president. At the period, he was leading an examination into Russian election interference and whether there were any relationships between Moscow and Trump's campaign.
Throughout his leadership, the director caused a backlash from Democrats when he declared just days before the 2016 election that he was probing political contender the candidate's use of a non-governmental email account. Indictments against Hillary Clinton were never brought, causing disapproval from conservative politicians as well.
Government attorneys assert the former director provided false information to Congress during a legislative proceeding in 2020 when he was being questioned about both the email probe as well as the foreign influence inquiry. They claim he provided false information to the Senate by stating he had not approved a person at the FBI to disclose to journalistic entities information about the agency probes.
Prosecutors also allege Mr Comey of "wrongfully trying to affect, obstruct and impede" the panel by making false statements to it.
In a video James Comey shared to his social media after he was charged, he declared he was wrongly accused and charged Trump of acting like a "dictator".
"Our household have been aware for years that there are ramifications to challenging the former president," he stated. "We will not live on our kneeling."
"I have done nothing wrong," he stated further. "So let's have a court case."
These allegations against the former director came after the former president posted on digital channels insisting on his attorney general, Pam Bondi, charge Mr Comey and additional individuals.
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