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Ex- Federal Bureau of Investigation director James Comey has pleaded not guilty to making false statements to lawmakers and impeding a lawmaking procedure.

His legal representative filed the response acting as his counsel in a federal court in Alexandria, Virginia on Wednesday morning.

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

James Comey was charged soon after Donald Trump urged his top legal official to proceed against him.

Legal Proceedings

In court on Wednesday, the defense counsel Patrick Fitzgerald advised the judge they aimed to present several legal requests to terminate the legal matter before a court case, stating the government's case was retaliatory and that a federal prosecutor was unlawfully designated to assume control of the proceedings.

James Comey's proceedings was initially overseen by Erik Siebert, who stepped down under influence from Donald Trump after his investigation into an additional rival - NY AG Letitia James - did not succeed to bring criminal charges.

Legal Setting

Mr Comey came across in positive mood as he entered the court on mid-week, chatting with his lawyers and sharing humor. He was accompanied by his partner, his wife and daughter his daughter, a US lawyer who the former government terminated.

Upon hearing to the court recite his rights and the two counts against him in the courtroom on Wednesday, Mr Comey was inquired if he grasped the charges.

"Absolutely your honour. Thank you," he stated to the judge.

Historical Information

The former director was the head of the FBI from 2013 to 2017 and was dismissed about a few months into Donald Trump's initial presidency as president. At the period, Mr Comey was directing an probe into international campaign influence and whether there were any relationships between Moscow and the election effort.

Throughout his leadership, the director caused a negative reaction from Democrats when he declared just days before the 2016 election that he was investigating presidential nominee Hillary Clinton's use of a non-governmental email account. Charges against the candidate were not pursued, leading to criticism from the Republican party as well.

Ongoing Accusations

Government attorneys allege the former director provided false information to Congress during a congressional hearing in September 2020 when he was being interrogated about both the Clinton investigation as well as the foreign influence inquiry. They claim he deceived the upper house by stating he had not permitted a person at the agency to leak to media organizations information about the government examinations.

Government lawyers also allege the defendant of "wrongfully trying to influence, block and slow" the committee by making false statements to it.

Public Statements

Via social media the former director published to his online platform after he was indicted, he declared he was innocent and charged the former president of conducting himself like a "tyrant".

"Our household have been aware for years that there are costs to challenging Mr Trump," he stated. "We will not live on our kneeling."

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

These allegations against the former director came after the former president published on social media insisting on his top legal official, the attorney general, charge Mr Comey and others.