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Former Federal Bureau of Investigation director James the former director has entered an innocent plea to providing misleading information to congressional representatives and impeding a congressional proceeding.

Mr Comey's lawyer submitted the response on his behalf in a US district court in the Virginia city of Alexandria on mid-week.

His attorney declared he would seek to have the legal matter terminated for various causes including that his the accused, a opponent of President Donald Trump, was being selectively prosecuted.

Mr Comey was charged just days after Trump pushed his chief prosecutor to proceed against him.

Judicial Process

During the hearing on mid-week, the defense counsel Mr Fitzgerald told the magistrate they planned to submit several motions to dismiss the case before a court case, claiming the prosecution was vindictive and that a US attorney was wrongfully appointed to take over the legal matter.

Mr Comey's case was originally managed by Erik Siebert, who stepped down under pressure from Donald Trump after his examination into another rival - New York Attorney General Letitia James - did not succeed to bring criminal charges.

Legal Setting

Mr Comey came across in optimistic frame of mind as he walked into the legal venue on mid-week, chatting with his attorneys and sharing humor. He was joined by his spouse, Mrs Failor and child Maureen, a federal prosecutor who the previous administration recently fired.

Upon hearing to the court recite his constitutional guarantees and the two counts against him in court on mid-week, James Comey was questioned if he understood the accusations.

"Yes your honour. Thank you very much," he told the judge.

Background Context

James Comey was the chief of the Federal Bureau of Investigation from four years and was terminated about four months into Donald Trump's initial presidency as president. At the moment, Mr Comey was leading an probe into Russian election interference and whether there were any connections between Russia and Trump's campaign.

Throughout his leadership, James Comey sparked a backlash from Democrats when he declared just immediately preceding the 2016 presidential election that he was probing presidential nominee the candidate's use of a personal email system. Charges against Clinton were not pursued, causing negative feedback from the Republican party as well.

Current Allegations

Prosecutors allege Mr Comey gave untrue statements to US lawmakers during a congressional hearing in 2020 when he was being examined about both the email probe as well as the foreign influence inquiry. They say he provided false information to the Senate by stating he had not approved someone at the agency to leak to journalistic entities information about the FBI investigations.

Government lawyers also accuse the defendant of "improperly attempting to influence, obstruct and impede" the legislative group by making false statements to it.

Personal Comments

Through a recording the former director shared to his online platform after he was accused, he stated he was wrongly accused and alleged Donald Trump of conducting himself like a "tyrant".

"My family and I have understood for years that there are consequences to challenging the former president," he stated. "We will not live on our kneeling."

"I'm innocent," he continued. "Thus initiate a court case."

These allegations against the former director came after Trump shared on online platforms insisting on his top legal official, the attorney general, charge the former director and additional individuals.