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Previous FBI head James the former director has entered an innocent plea to giving untrue testimony to US legislators and impeding a legislative process.

Mr Comey's lawyer filed the answer representing him in a US district court in Alexandria, Virginia on Wednesday.

His attorney declared he would seek to have the case terminated for various factors including that his defendant, a opponent of Donald Trump, was being selectively prosecuted.

The former director was indicted just days after the former president pushed his top legal official to take action against him.

Judicial Process

During the hearing on mid-week, the defense counsel Mr Fitzgerald advised the magistrate they aimed to present several motions to dismiss the case before a legal hearing, claiming the legal action was vindictive and that a federal prosecutor was wrongfully appointed to handle the legal matter.

The former director's proceedings was first handled by a Virginia prosecutor, who left his position under scrutiny from the former president after his probe into another political adversary - the New York official - was unable to file indictments.

Legal Setting

Mr Comey came across in good spirits as he entered the court on Wednesday, speaking with his legal team and sharing humor. He was supported by his wife, Mrs Failor and child Maureen, a federal prosecutor who the former government terminated.

After listening to the judge read his legal protections and the dual charges against him in legal proceedings on mid-week, Mr Comey was questioned if he understood the charges.

"Absolutely your honour. Thank you," he told the judge.

Background Context

James Comey was the chief of the Federal Bureau of Investigation from 2013 to 2017 and was fired about a few months into Trump's initial presidency as president. At the period, the director was directing an examination into international campaign influence and whether there were any relationships between Russia and the election effort.

Throughout his leadership, James Comey triggered a backlash from Democrats when he stated just shortly prior to the 2016 presidential election that he was investigating political contender Clinton's use of a non-governmental email account. Charges against Clinton were not filed, causing negative feedback from conservative politicians as well.

Present Charges

The federal government claim the former director provided false information to Congress during a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing in 2020 when he was being questioned about both the previous examination as well as the Russia election probe. They say he provided false information to the Senate by saying he had not approved someone at the agency to leak to journalistic entities details about the FBI investigations.

Prosecutors also allege the defendant of "improperly attempting to affect, obstruct and slow" the legislative group by making false statements to it.

Personal Comments

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

"My family and I have been aware for years that there are costs to opposing Mr Trump," he said. "We choose not to live on our bended knee."

"I'm innocent," he continued. "So let's have a court case."

The accusations against the former director surfaced after the former president published on social media insisting on his chief prosecutor, Pam Bondi, prosecute James Comey and other people.