Ex- FBI Director James Comey Submits Innocent Plea to Accusations of Misleading US Legislators

James Comey court appearance
He has maintained his innocence concerning the indictments

Previous FBI chief James the ex-FBI chief has denied the charges to making false statements to lawmakers and impeding a lawmaking procedure.

Mr Comey's legal representative filed the answer representing him in a federal court in Alexandria, Virginia on Wednesday morning.

His attorney announced he would attempt to have the proceedings thrown out for various factors including that his defendant, a detractor of Donald Trump, was being targeted.

The former director was charged just days after the former president pressured his chief prosecutor to proceed against him.

Judicial Process

During the hearing on Wednesday, his attorney the legal representative advised the judge they aimed to present several petitions to throw out the proceedings before a legal hearing, stating the legal action was retaliatory and that a government lawyer was improperly designated to assume control of the legal matter.

The former director's proceedings was initially managed by Erik Siebert, who left his position under pressure from Donald Trump after his probe into a different rival - New York Attorney General Letitia James - did not succeed to file indictments.

Judicial Environment

James Comey seemed in good spirits as he entered the court on Wednesday, speaking with his legal team and being lighthearted. He was supported by his wife, Patrice Failor and child his daughter, a government attorney who the former government dismissed.

After listening to the judge read his legal protections and the two counts against him in court on Wednesday, Mr Comey was questioned if he understood the charges.

"Yes your honour. Thank you," he told the court.

Previous Events

James Comey was the chief of the Federal Bureau of Investigation from 2013 to 2017 and was fired about a few months into Donald Trump's first term as national leader. At the period, he was directing an investigation into international campaign influence and whether there were any links between the Russian government and the election effort.

Throughout his leadership, Mr Comey sparked a counter-response from the Democratic party when he announced just immediately preceding the 2016 presidential election that he was probing Democratic candidate Clinton's use of a private email server. Indictments against the candidate were never brought, leading to negative feedback from conservative politicians as well.

Ongoing Accusations

The federal government claim the former director lied to US lawmakers during a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing in recent years when he was being questioned about both the previous examination as well as the foreign influence inquiry. They allege he provided false information to the Senate by saying he had not approved an individual at the agency to leak to journalistic entities information about the agency probes.

Legal representatives also charge Mr Comey of "improperly attempting to sway, block and slow" the legislative group by giving misleading testimony to it.

Public Statements

Via social media the former director posted to his online platform after he was charged, he declared he was wrongly accused and charged the former president of conducting himself like a "autocrat".

"Our household have known for a long time that there are consequences to challenging Mr Trump," he said. "We will not live on our kneeling."
"I have done nothing wrong," he added. "So let's have a legal proceeding."

These allegations against the former director came after Trump published on online platforms calling for his top legal official, Ms Bondi, charge James Comey and additional individuals.

Associated Events

  • Previous Federal Bureau of Investigation director James Comey accused on two charges
  • What charges is former director James Comey confront?
Lindsey Cohen
Lindsey Cohen

Tech writer and digital strategist passionate about emerging technologies and their impact on society.