Ex- FBI Director James Comey Submits Not Guilty Plea to Allegations of Misleading Lawmakers
Previous FBI head James the ex-FBI chief has pleaded not guilty to providing misleading information to US legislators and impeding a legislative process.
The former director's attorney submitted the plea acting as his counsel in a federal court in Alexandria, Virginia on Wednesday.
His attorney stated he would try to have the proceedings thrown out for multiple causes including that his defendant, a detractor of former President Trump, was being singled out.
Mr Comey was formally accused shortly after the former president pushed his attorney general to take action against him.
Judicial Process
At the proceedings on mid-week, his attorney Patrick Fitzgerald told the magistrate they aimed to present several motions to dismiss the proceedings before a legal hearing, arguing the prosecution was vindictive and that a US attorney was improperly designated to assume control of the proceedings.
The former director's case was initially overseen by the original attorney, who left his position under pressure from Trump after his probe into a different opponent - New York Attorney General Letitia James - failed to bring criminal charges.
Legal Setting
The former director seemed in good spirits as he walked into the court on Wednesday, chatting with his legal team and sharing humor. He was joined by his spouse, his wife and child Maureen, a US lawyer who the previous administration recently fired.
Upon hearing to the judge recite his legal protections and the two counts against him in legal proceedings on Wednesday, Mr Comey was questioned if he grasped the allegations.
"Yes your honour. Appreciate it," he informed the proceedings.
Previous Events
Mr Comey was the FBI Director from 2013-2017 and was terminated about a few months into the former president's first administration as commander-in-chief. At the moment, Mr Comey was directing an examination into international campaign influence and whether there were any connections between Moscow and the election effort.
While in office, James Comey sparked a negative reaction from the Democratic party when he announced just shortly prior to the national vote that he was investigating Democratic candidate the candidate's use of a non-governmental email account. Indictments against Hillary Clinton were never brought, causing negative feedback from the Republican party as well.
Present Charges
Government attorneys assert James Comey provided false information to Congress during a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing in recent years when he was being examined about both the Clinton investigation as well as the foreign influence inquiry. They say he deceived the Senate by stating he had not permitted an individual at the agency to disclose to news outlets details about the FBI investigations.
Prosecutors also allege the defendant of "wrongfully trying to influence, block and slow" the panel by providing untrue information to it.
Public Statements
Through a recording James Comey published to his online platform after he was charged, he declared he was innocent and accused the former president of behaving like a "dictator".
"We have understood for considerable time that there are ramifications to standing up to the former president," he commented. "We refuse to live on our kneeling."
"I am not guilty," he stated further. "So let's have a court case."
The accusations against Mr Comey came after Trump posted on social media demanding his attorney general, Ms Bondi, prosecute the former director and others.
Associated Events
- Previous FBI chief James Comey accused on dual counts
- The nature of charges are previous chief James Comey encounter?