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Previous Federal Bureau of Investigation chief James the former director has pleaded not guilty to making false statements to US legislators and hindering a congressional proceeding.

The former director's attorney submitted the answer acting as his counsel in a federal court in the Virginia city of Alexandria on Wednesday morning.

His attorney announced he would try to have the proceedings thrown out for various factors including that his client, a critic of Donald Trump, was being targeted.

James Comey was formally accused shortly after the former president pressured his attorney general to take action against him.

Judicial Process

In court on mid-week, Comey's lawyer Patrick Fitzgerald informed the court they intended to submit various petitions to terminate the legal matter before a trial, arguing the prosecution was spiteful and that a government lawyer was wrongfully assigned to assume control of the case.

The former director's case was originally handled by a Virginia prosecutor, who stepped down under scrutiny from Donald Trump after his investigation into a different opponent - the New York official - did not succeed to bring criminal charges.

Judicial Environment

The former director came across in optimistic frame of mind as he walked into the legal venue on Wednesday, conversing with his attorneys and being lighthearted. He was accompanied by his spouse, Mrs Failor and child Maureen, a US lawyer who the previous administration dismissed.

Upon hearing to the judge read his constitutional guarantees and the two counts against him in court on Wednesday, the defendant was questioned if he understood the charges.

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

Background Context

Mr Comey was the chief of the Federal Bureau of Investigation from four years and was dismissed about four months into the former president's initial presidency as commander-in-chief. At the moment, the director was directing an probe into international campaign influence and whether there were any relationships between Moscow and the presidential campaign.

Throughout his leadership, Mr Comey sparked a counter-response from Democrats when he declared just shortly prior to the national vote that he was investigating political contender Hillary Clinton's use of a personal email system. Charges against Hillary Clinton were not filed, causing disapproval from the Republican party as well.

Ongoing Accusations

Prosecutors allege Mr Comey provided false information to the legislature during a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing in September 2020 when he was being examined about both the email probe as well as the Russia election probe. They say he provided false information to the Senate by stating he had not authorized someone at the Federal Bureau of Investigation to disclose to journalistic entities information about the agency probes.

Legal representatives also allege James Comey of "corruptly endeavoring to affect, block and impede" the committee by giving misleading testimony to it.

Individual Responses

In a video Mr Comey published to his online platform after he was charged, he said he was wrongly accused and alleged Donald Trump of acting like a "tyrant".

"We have understood for a long time that there are costs to standing up to the former president," he said. "We will not live on our bended knee."

"I'm innocent," he stated further. "Thus initiate a court case."

These allegations against Mr Comey surfaced after Donald Trump published on online platforms demanding his chief prosecutor, Ms Bondi, prosecute Mr Comey and additional individuals.