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Previous FBI head James Comey has entered an innocent plea to giving untrue testimony to US legislators and obstructing a lawmaking procedure.

The former director's attorney submitted the answer acting as his counsel in a federal court in the Virginia city of Alexandria on mid-week.

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

The former director was charged shortly after Donald Trump pressured his top legal official to take action against him.

Judicial Process

During the hearing on mid-week, Comey's lawyer Mr Fitzgerald informed the magistrate they aimed to submit various petitions to throw out the case before a legal hearing, arguing the legal action was spiteful and that a US attorney was improperly assigned to take over the proceedings.

Mr Comey's case was originally handled by Erik Siebert, who resigned under scrutiny from the former president after his probe into a different opponent - NY AG Letitia James - did not succeed to file indictments.

Legal Setting

The former director appeared in good spirits as he came into the legal venue on Wednesday, speaking with his attorneys and being lighthearted. He was joined by his spouse, Mrs Failor and daughter his daughter, a government attorney who the Trump administration recently fired.

Following the reading to the magistrate recite his legal protections and the two counts against him in the courtroom on mid-week, Mr Comey was asked if he understood the accusations.

"I do your honour. Thank you very much," he informed the proceedings.

Historical Information

James Comey was the chief of the Federal Bureau of Investigation from 2013 to 2017 and was fired about four months into Trump's first administration as commander-in-chief. At the period, the director was leading an examination into Russian election interference and whether there were any links between the Russian government and Trump's campaign.

During his tenure, Mr Comey caused a backlash from Democrats when he declared just shortly prior to the 2016 presidential election that he was investigating political contender the candidate's use of a personal email system. Charges against Hillary Clinton were not pursued, leading to negative feedback from the Republican party as well.

Present Charges

Prosecutors claim James Comey lied to US lawmakers during a congressional hearing in 2020 when he was being examined about both the Clinton investigation as well as the election interference investigation. They allege he misled the Senate by stating he had not approved an individual at the FBI to leak to media organizations data about the FBI investigations.

Prosecutors also charge James Comey of "wrongfully trying to sway, hinder and slow" the legislative group by providing untrue information to it.

Personal Comments

In a video Mr Comey shared to his social media after he was charged, he stated he was innocent and alleged the former president of conducting himself like a "dictator".

"We have been aware for considerable time that there are ramifications to opposing Mr Trump," he said. "We choose not to live on our kneeling."

"I have done nothing wrong," he continued. "Thus initiate a court case."

The charges against Mr Comey emerged after Donald Trump posted on digital channels calling for his top legal official, the attorney general, take legal action against the former director and other people.