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Former Federal Bureau of Investigation director James the former director has entered an innocent plea to providing misleading information to lawmakers and obstructing a congressional proceeding.

Mr Comey's legal representative entered the response acting as his counsel in a federal court in Alexandria, Virginia on mid-week.

His attorney announced he would attempt to have the proceedings terminated for multiple factors including that his defendant, a critic of Donald Trump, was being singled out.

James Comey was indicted soon after the former president pressured his top legal official to take action against him.

Court Developments

At the proceedings on Wednesday, Comey's lawyer the legal representative informed the judge they aimed to file multiple motions to terminate the legal matter before a court case, claiming the prosecution was spiteful and that a US attorney was unlawfully appointed to handle the legal matter.

The former director's legal matter was originally handled by Erik Siebert, who resigned under influence from Donald Trump after his probe into a different political adversary - New York Attorney General Letitia James - did not succeed to initiate prosecution.

Courtroom Atmosphere

James Comey appeared in good spirits as he entered the courtroom on Wednesday, conversing with his legal team and being lighthearted. He was accompanied by his wife, his wife and offspring Maureen Comey, a federal prosecutor who the Trump administration recently fired.

Following the reading to the judge recite his constitutional guarantees and the pair of allegations against him in court on mid-week, James Comey was questioned if he comprehended the accusations.

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

Background Context

Mr Comey was the FBI Director from 2013-2017 and was fired about a few months into Donald Trump's first term as president. At the moment, the director was directing an investigation into Russian election interference and whether there were any links between the Russian government and the presidential campaign.

While in office, the director sparked a counter-response from Democrats when he declared just shortly prior to the 2016 election that he was probing presidential nominee Clinton's use of a private email server. Indictments against Hillary Clinton were never brought, causing criticism from the Republican party as well.

Current Allegations

The federal government allege Mr Comey provided false information to Congress during a congressional hearing in 2020 when he was being examined about both the Clinton investigation as well as the Russia election probe. They say he deceived the upper house by claiming he had not authorized an individual at the agency to leak to media organizations details about the FBI investigations.

Government lawyers also charge Mr Comey of "corruptly endeavoring to sway, hinder and impede" the committee by making false statements to it.

Personal Comments

In a video Mr Comey published to his online platform after he was charged, he said he was wrongly accused and alleged Trump of acting like a "autocrat".

"We have been aware for considerable time that there are costs to challenging the former president," he stated. "We will not live on our kneeling."

"I'm innocent," he stated further. "Thus initiate a trial."

The accusations against Mr Comey came after the former president published on social media calling for his top legal official, Ms Bondi, charge James Comey and others.