James Comey Pleads Not Guilty Amid Controversial Charges

Former FBI director James Comey has pleaded not guilty to two charges of making false statements to lawmakers and obstructing a congressional proceeding.

His lawyer entered the plea on his behalf in a federal court in Alexandria, Virginia, on Wednesday morning.

Patrick Fitzgerald said he would seek to have the case dismissed for several reasons, including that his client, a critic of US President Donald Trump, was being targeted.

Mr. Comey was indicted a few days after Trump urged his attorney general to take action against him. After Mr. Comey's lawyer requested a speedy trial, the judge set a date of 5 January.

Both the prosecution and defense expected the trial to last just two or three days.

In court on Wednesday, Mr. Comey's lawyer Patrick Fitzgerald told the judge that they planned to file several motions to dismiss the case before a trial, arguing the prosecution was vindictive and that a US attorney had been unlawfully appointed to take over the case.

Mr. Comey was fired as FBI director in 2017, about four months into Trump’s first term as president. At the time, Mr. Comey had been leading an investigation into Russian election interference and whether there were any links between Moscow and Trump’s campaign.

The federal government alleges Mr. Comey lied to Congress during a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing in September 2020, when he was being questioned about both the Russia election probe and an investigation into Trump's 2016 election rival Hillary Clinton's use of a private email server.

He told the hearing that he had not authorized someone at the FBI to leak information about the investigations—a statement the Justice Department alleges was untrue and misleading.

Prosecutors also accuse Mr. Comey of corruptly endeavor[ing] to influence, obstruct, and impede the panel by making false statements to it.

Comey appeared in good spirits as he entered the courtroom on Wednesday, chatting with his attorneys and making jokes. He was joined by his wife and daughter, a federal prosecutor who was recently fired by the Trump administration.

US District Judge Michael Nachmanoff emphasized the seriousness of the charges, each carrying up to five years in prison, as well as potential fines.

During his tenure as FBI director, Mr. Comey sparked backlash for his announcement regarding the investigation into Clinton's emails just days before the 2016 presidential election. Since leaving the government, he has remained a vocal critic of the Trump administration.

In a video posted after his indictment, Mr. Comey asserted his innocence and accused Trump of acting like a tyrant, indicating he was prepared to defend himself vigorously in court.