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Former Federal Bureau of Investigation head James the ex-FBI chief has pleaded not guilty to providing misleading information to congressional representatives and impeding a congressional proceeding.

The former director's lawyer entered the response on his behalf in a federal court in the Virginia city of Alexandria on Wednesday.

Patrick Fitzgerald declared he would attempt to have the proceedings dismissed for multiple reasons including that his the accused, a detractor of President Donald Trump, was being selectively prosecuted.

Mr Comey was formally accused just days after the former president pressured his attorney general to take action against him.

Legal Proceedings

In court on mid-week, his attorney the legal representative told the judge they aimed to submit several legal requests to terminate the legal matter before a trial, claiming the legal action was spiteful and that a federal prosecutor was wrongfully assigned to assume control of the legal matter.

James Comey's case was initially managed by the original attorney, who left his position under scrutiny from Donald Trump after his probe into another political adversary - New York Attorney General Letitia James - was unable to file indictments.

Legal Setting

The former director appeared in optimistic frame of mind as he entered the court on Wednesday, speaking with his attorneys and sharing humor. He was accompanied by his spouse, Mrs Failor and child Maureen Comey, a US lawyer who the Trump administration dismissed.

Following the reading to the court state his legal protections and the pair of allegations against him in the courtroom on Wednesday, Mr Comey was questioned if he comprehended the allegations.

"Yes your honour. Appreciate it," he informed the proceedings.

Background Context

Mr Comey was the head of the FBI from 2013-2017 and was terminated about four months into Trump's first term as national leader. At the period, the director was overseeing an probe into international campaign influence and whether there were any links between the Russian government and the presidential campaign.

Throughout his leadership, Mr Comey sparked a counter-response from Democrats when he declared just days before the 2016 presidential election that he was investigating Democratic candidate the candidate's use of a personal email system. Charges against Hillary Clinton were never brought, leading to disapproval from conservative politicians as well.

Current Allegations

Government attorneys assert the former director gave untrue statements to US lawmakers 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 claim he provided false information to the legislative body by saying he had not authorized a person at the Federal Bureau of Investigation to release to news outlets information about the agency probes.

Government lawyers also accuse James Comey of "wrongfully trying to influence, hinder and impede" the panel by giving misleading testimony to it.

Public Statements

Through a recording James Comey shared to his social media after he was charged, he said he was innocent and charged Donald Trump of acting like a "autocrat".

"My family and I have known for a long time that there are ramifications to challenging Donald Trump," he commented. "We choose not to live on our kneeling."

"I am not guilty," he stated further. "So let's have a court case."

The charges against the former director emerged after Donald Trump published on social media demanding his chief prosecutor, the attorney general, take legal action against the former director and additional individuals.