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Former Federal Bureau of Investigation director James Comey has entered an innocent plea to giving untrue testimony to US legislators and obstructing a legislative process.

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

Patrick Fitzgerald stated he would attempt to have the case dismissed for multiple factors including that his client, a detractor of former President Trump, was being targeted.

The former director was formally accused just days after the former president urged his top legal official to proceed against him.

Court Developments

During the hearing on Wednesday, the defense counsel the legal representative informed the magistrate they aimed to submit several legal requests to dismiss the proceedings before a court case, claiming the government's case was vindictive and that a government lawyer was unlawfully assigned to assume control of the legal matter.

Mr Comey's legal matter was originally handled by the original attorney, who resigned under influence from the former president after his examination into another opponent - NY AG Letitia James - failed to file indictments.

Legal Setting

Mr Comey appeared in optimistic frame of mind as he walked into the legal venue on Wednesday, conversing with his legal team and being lighthearted. He was accompanied by his partner, Patrice Failor and offspring his daughter, a federal prosecutor who the Trump administration recently fired.

Upon hearing to the court read his constitutional guarantees and the pair of allegations against him in the courtroom on Wednesday, Mr Comey was inquired if he comprehended the allegations.

"Absolutely your honour. Thank you very much," he told the proceedings.

Background Context

Mr Comey was the FBI Director from four years and was fired about several months into Donald Trump's first administration as president. At the period, the director was leading an examination into foreign election meddling and whether there were any links between the Russian government and Trump's campaign.

Throughout his leadership, the director caused a negative reaction from the Democratic party when he declared just shortly prior to the 2016 presidential election that he was examining political contender Hillary Clinton's use of a private email server. Indictments against Hillary Clinton were never brought, causing criticism from the Republican party as well.

Present Charges

Government attorneys assert Mr Comey gave untrue statements to Congress during a congressional hearing in 2020 when he was being examined about both the previous examination as well as the foreign influence inquiry. They allege he misled the upper house by claiming he had not authorized a person at the Federal Bureau of Investigation to release to media organizations data about the FBI investigations.

Legal representatives also charge Mr Comey of "improperly attempting to influence, obstruct and delay" the committee by providing untrue information to it.

Personal Comments

In a video Mr Comey shared to his online platform after he was charged, he declared he was innocent and alleged Donald Trump of behaving like a "autocrat".

"We have been aware for considerable time that there are ramifications to opposing Donald Trump," he said. "We will not live on our knees."

"I have done nothing wrong," he added. "So let's have a trial."

The charges against Mr Comey emerged after the former president posted on social media insisting on his top legal official, the attorney general, take legal action against the former director and others.