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Ex- Federal Bureau of Investigation head James the ex-FBI chief has entered an innocent plea to providing misleading information to lawmakers and hindering a lawmaking procedure.

His attorney filed the plea on his behalf in a federal court in Alexandria, Virginia on mid-week.

His attorney stated he would attempt to have the proceedings terminated for multiple factors including that his defendant, a critic of President Donald Trump, was being singled out.

James Comey was formally accused shortly after Trump pressured his top legal official to proceed against him.

Legal Proceedings

At the proceedings on Wednesday, Comey's lawyer the legal representative advised the court they planned to submit multiple legal requests to terminate the proceedings before a legal hearing, claiming the legal action was retaliatory and that a government lawyer was wrongfully appointed to take over the proceedings.

Mr Comey's legal matter was initially managed by a Virginia prosecutor, who resigned under pressure from the former president after his investigation into a different rival - NY AG Letitia James - did not succeed to initiate prosecution.

Judicial Environment

Mr Comey seemed in good spirits as he entered the courtroom on Wednesday, speaking with his attorneys and sharing humor. He was supported by his partner, his wife and daughter Maureen Comey, a federal prosecutor who the previous administration dismissed.

After listening to the judge read his rights and the pair of allegations against him in legal proceedings on Wednesday, Mr Comey was questioned if he grasped the charges.

"Yes your honour. Appreciate it," he stated to the judge.

Background Context

Mr Comey was the FBI Director from 2013-2017 and was dismissed about a few months into the former president's initial presidency as commander-in-chief. At the time, Mr Comey was overseeing an probe into international campaign influence and whether there were any connections between Moscow and Trump's campaign.

Throughout his leadership, Mr Comey caused a backlash from liberal politicians when he declared just immediately preceding the 2016 presidential election that he was probing political contender Hillary Clinton's use of a private email server. Legal actions against the candidate were never brought, resulting in negative feedback from Republicans as well.

Ongoing Accusations

Government attorneys assert Mr Comey lied to Congress during a legislative proceeding in 2020 when he was being interrogated about both the Clinton investigation as well as the foreign influence inquiry. They claim he deceived the upper house by saying he had not authorized a person at the Federal Bureau of Investigation to leak to media organizations details about the FBI investigations.

Legal representatives also charge the defendant of "improperly attempting to affect, block and impede" the panel by providing untrue information to it.

Public Statements

In a video the former director published to his online platform after he was indicted, he stated he was wrongly accused and charged Donald Trump of acting like a "dictator".

"Our household have been aware for years that there are costs to opposing Mr Trump," he stated. "We refuse to live on our knees."

"I have done nothing wrong," he added. "Therefore proceed with a legal proceeding."

The charges against the former director surfaced after Donald Trump published on online platforms insisting on his top legal official, the attorney general, prosecute Mr Comey and others.