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Previous Federal Bureau of Investigation head James the former director has pleaded not guilty to making false statements to lawmakers and hindering a legislative process.

His legal representative entered the plea acting as his counsel in a national courtroom in Alexandria, Virginia on mid-week.

Patrick Fitzgerald announced he would seek to have the proceedings thrown out for several reasons including that his client, a critic of Donald Trump, was being selectively prosecuted.

James Comey was charged just days after the former president urged his top legal official to proceed against him.

Legal Proceedings

At the proceedings on Wednesday, Comey's lawyer the legal representative advised the magistrate they aimed to present various legal requests to dismiss the legal matter before a legal hearing, stating the legal action was retaliatory and that a US attorney was wrongfully assigned to assume control of the case.

The former director's legal matter was initially overseen by a Virginia prosecutor, who resigned under influence from Trump after his examination into another rival - New York Attorney General Letitia James - failed to initiate prosecution.

Judicial Environment

James Comey appeared in good spirits as he entered the courtroom on Wednesday, chatting with his attorneys and sharing humor. He was joined by his wife, his wife and daughter Maureen, a federal prosecutor who the former government dismissed.

After listening to the magistrate state his constitutional guarantees and the two counts against him in the courtroom on Wednesday, the defendant was questioned if he grasped the charges.

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

Historical Information

Mr Comey was the FBI Director from 2013-2017 and was dismissed about several months into Donald Trump's initial presidency as president. At the moment, he was leading an probe into Russian election interference and whether there were any connections between the Russian government and Trump's campaign.

Throughout his leadership, the director caused a counter-response from Democrats when he declared just shortly prior to the national vote that he was investigating Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton's use of a personal email system. Legal actions against Hillary Clinton were not filed, causing negative feedback from conservative politicians as well.

Present Charges

The federal government assert James Comey gave untrue statements to the legislature during a congressional hearing in 2020 when he was being interrogated about both the email probe as well as the Russia election probe. They allege he deceived the upper house by saying he had not authorized an individual at the agency to disclose to news outlets information about the agency probes.

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

Public Statements

In a video James Comey posted to his Instagram after he was charged, he stated he was innocent and accused Trump of conducting himself like a "tyrant".

"We have been aware for a long time that there are ramifications to standing up to Donald Trump," he stated. "We refuse to live on our knees."

"I am not guilty," he stated further. "Therefore proceed with a legal proceeding."

These allegations against the former director surfaced after Trump published on digital channels calling for his top legal official, Ms Bondi, take legal action against Mr Comey and other people.