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Previous FBI chief James the former director has entered an innocent plea to giving untrue testimony to US legislators and obstructing a congressional proceeding.

Mr Comey's lawyer entered the plea on his behalf in a national courtroom in Alexandria, Virginia on Wednesday.

The defense lawyer declared he would try to have the proceedings terminated for multiple factors including that his defendant, a critic of President Donald Trump, was being singled out.

Mr Comey was charged shortly after the former president pushed his chief prosecutor to proceed against him.

Court Developments

During the hearing on Wednesday, Comey's lawyer Patrick Fitzgerald told the court they planned to present several motions to throw out the legal matter before a court case, stating the legal action was spiteful and that a government lawyer was unlawfully designated to assume control of the legal matter.

James Comey's proceedings was first handled by a Virginia prosecutor, who resigned under scrutiny from the former president after his examination into an additional rival - New York Attorney General Letitia James - was unable to bring criminal charges.

Courtroom Atmosphere

James Comey appeared in positive mood as he walked into the court on mid-week, speaking with his legal team and sharing humor. He was supported by his spouse, Mrs Failor and offspring Maureen, a US lawyer who the previous administration dismissed.

Following the reading to the magistrate recite his constitutional guarantees and the two counts against him in legal proceedings on mid-week, the defendant was questioned if he understood the charges.

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

Previous Events

Mr Comey was the chief of the Federal Bureau of Investigation from 2013-2017 and was terminated about four months into the former president's first administration as president. At the period, the director was directing an probe into international campaign influence and whether there were any relationships between the Russian government and Trump's campaign.

During his tenure, James Comey sparked a counter-response from the Democratic party when he declared just days before the 2016 election that he was investigating Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton's use of a non-governmental email account. Charges against Hillary Clinton were not pursued, resulting in disapproval from conservative politicians as well.

Current Allegations

Prosecutors allege the former director provided false information to Congress during a congressional hearing in September 2020 when he was being questioned about both the email probe as well as the Russia election probe. They claim he deceived the legislative body by saying he had not approved someone at the FBI to leak to news outlets data about the FBI investigations.

Legal representatives also accuse the defendant of "improperly attempting to affect, obstruct and delay" the panel by giving misleading testimony to it.

Public Statements

Through a recording the former director published to his social media after he was charged, he stated he was not guilty and charged Donald Trump of behaving like a "dictator".

"We have understood for a long time that there are costs to standing up to Donald Trump," he said. "We choose not to live on our kneeling."

"I am not guilty," he stated further. "Therefore proceed with a legal proceeding."

These allegations against the former director surfaced after the former president published on social media calling for his attorney general, the attorney general, take legal action against James Comey and others.