Former FBI Director James Comey Files Innocent Plea to Charges of Misleading Congress
Previous Federal Bureau of Investigation director James Comey has denied the charges to making false statements to US legislators and obstructing a lawmaking procedure.
His attorney filed the response representing him in a federal court in the Virginia city of Alexandria on Wednesday.
The defense lawyer declared he would try to have the legal matter dismissed for various reasons including that his the accused, a detractor of former President Trump, was being singled out.
Mr Comey was formally accused soon after the former president pushed his top legal official to proceed against him.
Legal Proceedings
At the proceedings on mid-week, the defense counsel Mr Fitzgerald advised the magistrate they planned to present various petitions to terminate the proceedings before a trial, claiming the government's case was vindictive and that a federal prosecutor was unlawfully assigned to take over the legal matter.
James Comey's proceedings was initially overseen by Erik Siebert, who resigned under influence from Donald Trump after his investigation into another rival - New York Attorney General Letitia James - failed to initiate prosecution.
Courtroom Atmosphere
Mr Comey seemed in positive mood as he walked into the court on Wednesday, speaking with his lawyers and making jokes. He was accompanied by his partner, Mrs Failor and daughter his daughter, a US lawyer who the previous administration terminated.
After listening to the magistrate read his legal protections and the pair of allegations against him in court on mid-week, Mr Comey was inquired if he grasped the allegations.
"Absolutely your honour. Thank you," he stated to the judge.
Previous Events
James Comey was the head of the FBI from 2013-2017 and was dismissed about several months into Trump's first administration as president. At the moment, Mr Comey was directing an examination into international campaign influence and whether there were any relationships between Russia and the presidential campaign.
During his tenure, Mr Comey caused a counter-response from Democrats when he stated just immediately preceding the national vote that he was examining presidential nominee the candidate's use of a private email server. Indictments against the candidate were not filed, leading to disapproval from conservative politicians as well.
Current Allegations
The federal government allege Mr Comey gave untrue statements to US lawmakers during a congressional hearing in 2020 when he was being questioned about both the previous examination as well as the election interference investigation. They claim he deceived the upper house by saying he had not approved an individual at the Federal Bureau of Investigation to leak to journalistic entities data about the government examinations.
Prosecutors also charge Mr Comey of "improperly attempting to sway, hinder and slow" the committee by making false statements to it.
Personal Comments
Through a recording the former director shared to his social media after he was accused, he said he was wrongly accused and alleged Trump of acting like a "autocrat".
"My family and I have been aware for considerable time that there are consequences to opposing the former president," he said. "We refuse to live on our kneeling."
"I'm innocent," he added. "Thus initiate a court case."
The accusations against the former director came after Trump shared on social media demanding his chief prosecutor, Pam Bondi, take legal action against James Comey and others.
Connected Matters
- Former FBI chief James Comey accused on pair of allegations
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