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Previous Federal Bureau of Investigation director James the ex-FBI chief has entered an innocent plea to giving untrue testimony to lawmakers and impeding a lawmaking procedure.

His legal representative filed the plea on his behalf in a federal court in the Virginia city of Alexandria on Wednesday morning.

Patrick Fitzgerald stated he would try to have the proceedings dismissed for several causes including that his defendant, a opponent of President Donald Trump, was being selectively prosecuted.

Mr Comey was indicted soon after the former president urged his chief prosecutor to take action against him.

Legal Proceedings

At the proceedings on Wednesday, his attorney Patrick Fitzgerald informed the judge they planned to file various motions to throw out the legal matter before a trial, stating the legal action was vindictive and that a US attorney was improperly assigned to assume control of the proceedings.

Mr Comey's proceedings was first managed by a Virginia prosecutor, who stepped down under influence from Trump after his probe into another rival - New York Attorney General Letitia James - was unable to file indictments.

Legal Setting

James Comey seemed in positive mood as he entered the court on mid-week, speaking with his lawyers and making jokes. He was joined by his spouse, Mrs Failor and offspring Maureen, a federal prosecutor who the previous administration terminated.

After listening to the magistrate read his rights and the two counts against him in the courtroom on Wednesday, James Comey was asked if he grasped the allegations.

"I do your honour. Appreciate it," he told the court.

Background Context

The former director was the chief of the Federal Bureau of Investigation from 2013-2017 and was terminated about a few months into Donald Trump's first administration as president. At the time, Mr Comey was overseeing an probe into Russian election interference and whether there were any links between Russia and Trump's campaign.

While in office, Mr Comey caused a counter-response from liberal politicians when he stated just shortly prior to the 2016 presidential election that he was examining presidential nominee Clinton's use of a private email server. Legal actions against the candidate were not filed, leading to disapproval from conservative politicians as well.

Ongoing Accusations

The federal government assert the former director gave untrue statements to US lawmakers during a legislative proceeding in 2020 when he was being examined about both the previous examination as well as the Russia election probe. They claim he deceived the upper house by stating he had not authorized a person at the FBI to disclose to media organizations data about the government examinations.

Prosecutors also accuse James Comey of "corruptly endeavoring to sway, obstruct and delay" the panel by giving misleading testimony to it.

Individual Responses

Through a recording the former director published to his social media after he was indicted, he declared he was not guilty and charged Trump of behaving like a "dictator".

"My family and I have known for considerable time that there are consequences to opposing the former president," he stated. "We choose not to live on our bended knee."

"I'm innocent," he continued. "So let's have a legal proceeding."

These allegations against James Comey came after Donald Trump published on social media demanding his chief prosecutor, Ms Bondi, charge the former director and others.