Ex- FBI Director James Comey Submits Innocent Plea to Charges of Misleading Lawmakers
Former FBI director James Comey has entered an innocent plea to giving untrue testimony to congressional representatives and impeding a legislative process.
The former director's lawyer submitted the answer acting as his counsel in a federal court in Alexandria, Virginia on mid-week.
His attorney declared he would try to have the case dismissed for several factors including that his the accused, a critic of former President Trump, was being selectively prosecuted.
The former director was indicted just days after Trump pushed his attorney general to take action against him.
Court Developments
At the proceedings on mid-week, Comey's lawyer the legal representative informed the court they aimed to present multiple petitions to terminate the proceedings before a legal hearing, claiming the legal action was vindictive and that a government lawyer was unlawfully designated to take over the legal matter.
James Comey's proceedings was originally managed by Erik Siebert, who left his position under scrutiny from the former president after his probe into a different rival - NY AG Letitia James - failed to initiate prosecution.
Legal Setting
The former director came across in good spirits as he walked into the court on Wednesday, conversing with his attorneys and being lighthearted. He was joined by his partner, Mrs Failor and offspring Maureen Comey, a government attorney who the former government recently fired.
Following the reading to the magistrate read his rights and the two counts against him in court on mid-week, James Comey was asked if he understood the charges.
"Yes your honour. Thank you very much," he informed the judge.
Historical Information
The former director was the chief of the Federal Bureau of Investigation from 2013 to 2017 and was fired about several months into Donald Trump's first administration as commander-in-chief. At the time, he was directing an investigation into international campaign influence and whether there were any connections between Russia and Trump's campaign.
During his tenure, the director triggered a backlash from liberal politicians when he announced just shortly prior to the 2016 presidential election that he was examining presidential nominee the candidate's use of a private email server. Legal actions against Hillary Clinton were not filed, causing disapproval from Republicans as well.
Present Charges
The federal government assert the former director gave untrue statements to US lawmakers during a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing in 2020 when he was being questioned about both the Clinton investigation as well as the election interference investigation. They say he deceived the Senate by stating he had not approved an individual at the Federal Bureau of Investigation to release to journalistic entities details about the FBI investigations.
Government lawyers also accuse Mr Comey of "wrongfully trying to affect, obstruct and slow" the legislative group by giving misleading testimony to it.
Individual Responses
Through a recording the former director posted to his Instagram after he was accused, he stated he was innocent and alleged the former president of behaving like a "dictator".
"Our household have understood for a long time that there are consequences to standing up to the former president," he commented. "We choose not to live on our knees."
"I'm innocent," he continued. "So let's have a legal proceeding."
The accusations against the former director surfaced after Trump published on online platforms insisting on his top legal official, the attorney general, take legal action against Mr Comey and additional individuals.
Connected Matters
- Previous Federal Bureau of Investigation chief James Comey charged on pair of allegations
- The nature of accusations does former director James Comey face?