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Ex- Federal Bureau of Investigation chief James the former director has entered an innocent plea to giving untrue testimony to US legislators and impeding a legislative process.

Mr Comey's lawyer submitted the response representing him in a US district court in Alexandria, Virginia on Wednesday morning.

Patrick Fitzgerald announced he would seek to have the case thrown out for several factors including that his defendant, a critic of former President Trump, was being selectively prosecuted.

The former director was formally accused just days after Trump pressured his attorney general to proceed against him.

Court Developments

During the hearing on mid-week, Comey's lawyer Mr Fitzgerald told the court they planned to present various legal requests to dismiss the proceedings before a trial, stating the legal action was retaliatory and that a federal prosecutor was improperly designated to handle the legal matter.

Mr Comey's legal matter was first managed by Erik Siebert, who stepped down under pressure from the former president after his examination into another opponent - the New York official - did not succeed to bring criminal charges.

Legal Setting

Mr Comey appeared in optimistic frame of mind as he came into the courtroom on Wednesday, chatting with his lawyers and making jokes. He was joined by his wife, Patrice Failor and offspring his daughter, a federal prosecutor who the previous administration recently fired.

After listening to the court state his rights and the pair of allegations against him in legal proceedings on Wednesday, the defendant was questioned if he grasped the charges.

"I do your honour. Appreciate it," he stated to the proceedings.

Historical Information

James Comey was the head of the FBI from 2013-2017 and was terminated about a few months into the former president's first administration as commander-in-chief. At the period, he was overseeing an investigation into foreign election meddling and whether there were any links between the Russian government and the presidential campaign.

During his tenure, the director caused a negative reaction from liberal politicians when he declared just shortly prior to the 2016 election that he was probing political contender Clinton's use of a personal email system. Charges against Clinton were not pursued, causing criticism from conservative politicians as well.

Current Allegations

The federal government claim James Comey provided false information to US lawmakers during a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing in 2020 when he was being examined about both the previous examination as well as the election interference investigation. They claim he deceived the Senate by saying he had not approved an individual at the FBI to leak to journalistic entities details about the agency probes.

Legal representatives also charge James Comey of "improperly attempting to sway, hinder and slow" the committee by giving misleading testimony to it.

Individual Responses

Through a recording the former director published to his online platform after he was indicted, he declared he was not guilty and accused the former president of behaving like a "dictator".

"We have known for years that there are ramifications to standing up to Donald Trump," he commented. "We choose not to live on our bended knee."

"I am not guilty," he added. "So let's have a legal proceeding."

The charges against Mr Comey emerged after the former president shared on social media demanding his chief prosecutor, Pam Bondi, charge James Comey and others.