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Previous FBI director James the former director has entered an innocent plea to providing misleading information to US legislators and hindering a lawmaking procedure.

Mr Comey's legal representative entered the plea acting as his counsel in a federal court in the Virginia city of Alexandria on Wednesday.

Patrick Fitzgerald announced he would seek to have the legal matter terminated for several causes including that his the accused, a opponent of former President Trump, was being targeted.

The former director was charged soon after the former president pushed his chief prosecutor to move forward against him.

Legal Proceedings

During the hearing on Wednesday, the defense counsel the legal representative advised the judge they planned to submit multiple legal requests to dismiss the legal matter before a legal hearing, arguing the legal action was retaliatory and that a government lawyer was wrongfully assigned to handle the proceedings.

The former director's case was originally managed by a Virginia prosecutor, who left his position under pressure from Donald Trump after his investigation into another opponent - the New York official - was unable to initiate prosecution.

Judicial Environment

James Comey came across in good spirits as he came into the courtroom on Wednesday, chatting with his legal team and making jokes. He was accompanied by his spouse, Mrs Failor and offspring Maureen, a US lawyer who the former government terminated.

After listening to the judge recite his rights and the pair of allegations against him in court on Wednesday, the defendant was inquired if he understood the charges.

"Yes your honour. Thank you," he informed the court.

Background Context

James Comey was the FBI Director from 2013-2017 and was terminated about several months into Trump's initial presidency as president. At the moment, Mr Comey was overseeing an probe into foreign election meddling and whether there were any relationships between Russia and Trump's campaign.

Throughout his leadership, James Comey caused a counter-response from the Democratic party when he declared just shortly prior to the national vote that he was probing Democratic candidate Clinton's use of a private email server. Legal actions against the candidate were never brought, leading to negative feedback from conservative politicians as well.

Ongoing Accusations

The federal government claim Mr Comey provided false information to Congress during a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing in September 2020 when he was being interrogated about both the Clinton investigation as well as the foreign influence inquiry. They claim he provided false information to the Senate by saying he had not authorized a person at the agency to disclose to news outlets details about the FBI investigations.

Government lawyers also allege the defendant of "wrongfully trying to influence, obstruct and impede" the legislative group by giving misleading testimony to it.

Personal Comments

In a video James Comey shared to his online platform after he was accused, he stated he was not guilty and accused Trump of conducting himself like a "autocrat".

"We have understood for years that there are ramifications to standing up to Donald Trump," he commented. "We refuse to live on our kneeling."

"I am not guilty," he added. "Thus initiate a court case."

The charges against James Comey came after Trump published on digital channels calling for his attorney general, Pam Bondi, take legal action against James Comey and other people.