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Ex- Federal Bureau of Investigation head James the ex-FBI chief has entered an innocent plea to giving untrue testimony to lawmakers and hindering a lawmaking procedure.

Mr Comey's legal representative filed the response on his behalf in a federal court in Alexandria, Virginia on Wednesday morning.

Patrick Fitzgerald announced he would try to have the proceedings thrown out for multiple reasons including that his defendant, a opponent of President Donald Trump, was being singled out.

The former director was formally accused soon after Trump pressured his attorney general to move forward against him.

Legal Proceedings

In court on mid-week, Comey's lawyer Patrick Fitzgerald told the magistrate they planned to submit several legal requests to dismiss the case before a trial, stating the legal action was vindictive and that a US attorney was improperly assigned to take over the proceedings.

The former director's case was originally handled by a Virginia prosecutor, who stepped down under pressure from Trump after his investigation into another political adversary - New York Attorney General Letitia James - was unable to file indictments.

Legal Setting

Mr Comey appeared in positive mood as he came into the court on mid-week, speaking with his legal team and sharing humor. He was supported by his spouse, his wife and child Maureen, a federal prosecutor who the previous administration recently fired.

Upon hearing to the judge state his legal protections and the dual charges against him in legal proceedings on Wednesday, Mr Comey was questioned if he comprehended the allegations.

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

Background Context

Mr Comey was the head of the FBI from 2013-2017 and was fired about a few months into Trump's initial presidency as president. At the moment, he was directing an investigation into Russian election interference and whether there were any relationships between Russia and the election effort.

Throughout his leadership, James Comey caused a counter-response from Democrats when he announced just immediately preceding the 2016 presidential election that he was probing Democratic candidate the candidate's use of a non-governmental email account. Indictments against the candidate were not filed, leading to negative feedback from conservative politicians as well.

Ongoing Accusations

Government attorneys allege Mr Comey lied to the legislature during a legislative proceeding in September 2020 when he was being examined about both the email probe as well as the foreign influence inquiry. They allege he misled the legislative body by saying he had not approved an individual at the agency to leak to media organizations information about the agency probes.

Government lawyers also accuse Mr Comey of "wrongfully trying to affect, block and slow" the panel by making false statements to it.

Public Statements

In a video Mr Comey shared to his social media after he was indicted, he declared he was wrongly accused and alleged the former president of behaving like a "tyrant".

"My family and I have known for years that there are ramifications to standing up to the former president," he said. "We choose not to live on our bended knee."

"I am not guilty," he stated further. "So let's have a court case."

The charges against the former director surfaced after the former president published on digital channels insisting on his top legal official, the attorney general, take legal action against the former director and others.