Former FBI Chief James Comey Submits Denial Plea to Accusations of Lying US Legislators

Previous FBI head James the former director has denied the charges to providing misleading information to lawmakers and hindering a lawmaking procedure.

Mr Comey's legal representative entered the answer on his behalf in a national courtroom in Alexandria, Virginia on Wednesday morning.

Patrick Fitzgerald announced he would seek to have the case thrown out for various reasons including that his the accused, a opponent of President Donald Trump, was being targeted.

Mr Comey was charged soon after Donald Trump pressured his attorney general to take action against him.

Judicial Process

At the proceedings on Wednesday, his attorney Patrick Fitzgerald informed the judge they planned to present various motions to throw out the proceedings before a trial, arguing the legal action was vindictive and that a government lawyer was improperly assigned to handle the case.

Mr Comey's case was initially handled by the original attorney, who resigned under influence from Trump after his probe into a different opponent - New York Attorney General Letitia James - was unable to initiate prosecution.

Judicial Environment

The former director seemed in good spirits as he walked into the court on mid-week, conversing with his legal team and sharing humor. He was joined by his wife, his wife and child Maureen, a government attorney who the former government recently fired.

Upon hearing to the magistrate read his rights and the dual charges against him in court on Wednesday, James Comey was questioned if he understood the charges.

"Yes your honour. Appreciate it," he told the court.

Previous Events

The former director was the FBI Director from 2013-2017 and was terminated about several months into Trump's first administration as national leader. At the time, he was overseeing an examination into Russian election interference and whether there were any links between Moscow and the presidential campaign.

While in office, Mr Comey triggered a counter-response from Democrats when he announced just days before the national vote that he was investigating political contender the candidate's use of a personal email system. Indictments against Hillary Clinton were not filed, resulting in negative feedback from Republicans as well.

Current Allegations

Government attorneys claim the former director gave untrue statements to US lawmakers during a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing in recent years when he was being questioned about both the email probe as well as the election interference investigation. They say he provided false information to the upper house by claiming he had not permitted someone at the FBI to disclose to news outlets information about the FBI investigations.

Government lawyers also accuse James Comey of "corruptly endeavoring to sway, obstruct and slow" the panel by providing untrue information to it.

Personal Comments

In a video the former director posted to his online platform after he was accused, he said he was wrongly accused and alleged Donald Trump of acting like a "dictator".

"Our household have been aware for years that there are consequences to opposing Mr Trump," he stated. "We choose not to live on our bended knee."

"I am not guilty," he stated further. "Therefore proceed with a court case."

The accusations against the former director came after Trump published on online platforms demanding his top legal official, Pam Bondi, charge the former director and others.