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Previous Federal Bureau of Investigation director James the ex-FBI chief has denied the charges to giving untrue testimony to US legislators and impeding a legislative process.

Mr Comey's attorney submitted the answer on his behalf in a national courtroom in the Virginia city of Alexandria on Wednesday morning.

The defense lawyer stated he would seek to have the case thrown out for multiple causes including that his defendant, a critic of Donald Trump, was being singled out.

James Comey was charged soon after Trump pressured his top legal official to move forward against him.

Legal Proceedings

During the hearing on mid-week, the defense counsel Patrick Fitzgerald informed the magistrate they planned to present various legal requests to throw out the proceedings before a legal hearing, arguing the prosecution was vindictive and that a government lawyer was improperly assigned to take over the proceedings.

The former director's case was first overseen by a Virginia prosecutor, who left his position under pressure from Trump after his probe into another rival - New York Attorney General Letitia James - was unable to initiate prosecution.

Courtroom Atmosphere

The former director seemed in good spirits as he entered the courtroom on mid-week, chatting with his legal team and being lighthearted. He was joined by his partner, Patrice Failor and child Maureen, a federal prosecutor who the Trump administration recently fired.

After listening to the court state his rights and the dual charges against him in legal proceedings on Wednesday, the defendant was inquired if he grasped the allegations.

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

Previous Events

James Comey was the head of the FBI from 2013 to 2017 and was dismissed about several months into Trump's initial presidency as national leader. At the time, Mr Comey was leading an examination into foreign election meddling and whether there were any relationships between Russia and the presidential campaign.

During his tenure, Mr Comey triggered a counter-response from Democrats when he stated just shortly prior to the 2016 presidential election that he was probing Democratic candidate Clinton's use of a personal email system. Legal actions against Clinton were not pursued, causing negative feedback from conservative politicians as well.

Ongoing Accusations

Prosecutors allege the former director gave untrue statements to Congress during a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing in September 2020 when he was being examined about both the email probe as well as the foreign influence inquiry. They allege he misled the Senate by claiming he had not permitted a person at the agency to leak to news outlets information about the government examinations.

Legal representatives also allege James Comey of "wrongfully trying to influence, hinder and impede" the legislative group by providing untrue information to it.

Personal Comments

In a video the former director shared to his online platform after he was charged, he stated he was innocent and alleged Donald Trump of behaving like a "dictator".

"Our household have been aware for a long time that there are ramifications to challenging Mr Trump," he commented. "We choose not to live on our kneeling."

"I have done nothing wrong," he added. "So let's have a trial."

These allegations against the former director emerged after Donald Trump published on online platforms calling for his top legal official, Pam Bondi, prosecute James Comey and others.