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Previous Federal Bureau of Investigation director James Comey has entered an innocent plea to making false statements to US legislators and obstructing a congressional proceeding.

The former director's attorney entered the answer on his behalf in a national courtroom in the Virginia city of Alexandria on Wednesday morning.

The defense lawyer stated he would seek to have the proceedings thrown out for several factors including that his client, a critic of former President Trump, was being selectively prosecuted.

James Comey was formally accused shortly after the former president urged his chief prosecutor to take action against him.

Legal Proceedings

At the proceedings on mid-week, his attorney Patrick Fitzgerald told the judge they planned to present several petitions to throw out the legal matter before a legal hearing, stating the legal action was spiteful and that a federal prosecutor was wrongfully assigned to take over the proceedings.

Mr Comey's legal matter was first managed by a Virginia prosecutor, who resigned under influence from Trump after his examination into an additional opponent - the New York official - was unable to file indictments.

Legal Setting

The former director seemed in positive mood as he came into the legal venue on Wednesday, speaking with his lawyers and being lighthearted. He was joined by his partner, his wife and offspring Maureen Comey, a US lawyer who the former government terminated.

Upon hearing to the court recite his constitutional guarantees and the pair of allegations against him in legal proceedings on Wednesday, Mr Comey was questioned if he comprehended the charges.

"I do your honour. Thank you very much," he told the court.

Previous Events

The former director was the chief of the Federal Bureau of Investigation from four years and was fired about four months into Donald Trump's first term as national leader. At the period, he was directing an probe into international campaign influence and whether there were any relationships between Russia and the election effort.

During his tenure, James Comey caused a backlash from Democrats when he announced just days before the national vote that he was examining Democratic candidate the candidate's use of a private email server. Charges against Clinton were never brought, resulting in disapproval from the Republican party as well.

Ongoing Accusations

Government attorneys claim Mr Comey gave untrue statements to Congress during a legislative proceeding in September 2020 when he was being questioned about both the email probe as well as the Russia election probe. They allege he provided false information to the upper house by claiming he had not approved someone at the agency to leak to news outlets information about the government examinations.

Government lawyers also allege Mr Comey of "corruptly endeavoring to influence, obstruct and delay" the committee by giving misleading testimony to it.

Public Statements

Via social media James Comey shared to his social media after he was charged, he stated he was wrongly accused and alleged Donald Trump of conducting himself like a "dictator".

"We have known for considerable time that there are costs to challenging Mr Trump," he stated. "We refuse to live on our kneeling."

"I have done nothing wrong," he stated further. "Thus initiate a legal proceeding."

These allegations against the former director emerged after Trump published on social media insisting on his top legal official, Ms Bondi, take legal action against the former director and other people.