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Previous Federal Bureau of Investigation chief James Comey has denied the charges to giving untrue testimony to lawmakers and obstructing a lawmaking procedure.

Mr Comey's attorney filed the response on his behalf in a national courtroom in the Virginia city of Alexandria on Wednesday.

Patrick Fitzgerald stated he would attempt to have the legal matter thrown out for multiple reasons including that his the accused, a detractor of President Donald Trump, was being targeted.

Mr Comey was formally accused soon after Donald Trump urged his chief prosecutor to proceed against him.

Judicial Process

During the hearing on Wednesday, the defense counsel Patrick Fitzgerald told the judge they aimed to present multiple petitions to throw out the proceedings before a court case, stating the prosecution was spiteful and that a US attorney was wrongfully appointed to handle the proceedings.

James Comey's case was originally handled by a Virginia prosecutor, who stepped down under scrutiny from Donald Trump after his probe into another opponent - NY AG Letitia James - failed to initiate prosecution.

Courtroom Atmosphere

The former director seemed in optimistic frame of mind as he entered the legal venue on mid-week, chatting with his attorneys and sharing humor. He was supported by his spouse, his wife and child Maureen, a government attorney who the previous administration dismissed.

Following the reading to the judge state his constitutional guarantees and the two counts against him in legal proceedings on Wednesday, the defendant was inquired if he comprehended the allegations.

"I do your honour. Thank you very much," he stated to the proceedings.

Background Context

Mr Comey was the head of the FBI from 2013-2017 and was terminated about several months into the former president's first term as president. At the moment, he was overseeing an investigation into international campaign influence and whether there were any relationships between Moscow and Trump's campaign.

During his tenure, Mr Comey triggered a counter-response from the Democratic party when he stated just immediately preceding the 2016 election that he was investigating Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton's use of a personal email system. Legal actions against Hillary Clinton were not filed, causing disapproval from conservative politicians as well.

Current Allegations

Prosecutors assert the former director lied to Congress during a congressional hearing in September 2020 when he was being examined about both the email probe as well as the foreign influence inquiry. They say he misled the upper house by stating he had not permitted an individual at the FBI to release to news outlets information about the agency probes.

Prosecutors also charge Mr Comey of "wrongfully trying to sway, obstruct and slow" the committee by giving misleading testimony to it.

Public Statements

Through a recording Mr Comey published to his social media after he was indicted, he declared he was not guilty and accused Donald Trump of conducting himself like a "tyrant".

"We have understood for considerable time that there are consequences to opposing the former president," he commented. "We will not live on our kneeling."

"I have done nothing wrong," he continued. "Thus initiate a court case."

These allegations against the former director surfaced after Donald Trump shared on online platforms calling for his top legal official, the attorney general, charge Mr Comey and additional individuals.