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Ex- FBI chief James the former director has entered an innocent plea to giving untrue testimony to US legislators and obstructing a legislative process.

Mr Comey's lawyer submitted the answer acting as his counsel in a US district court in the Virginia city of Alexandria on Wednesday morning.

Patrick Fitzgerald announced he would seek to have the proceedings thrown out for multiple factors including that his the accused, a detractor of Donald Trump, was being selectively prosecuted.

James Comey was charged shortly after the former president pressured his top legal official to take action against him.

Judicial Process

During the hearing on Wednesday, Comey's lawyer the legal representative told the court they intended to file multiple petitions to throw out the proceedings before a trial, arguing the legal action was retaliatory and that a US attorney was improperly assigned to handle the proceedings.

The former director's case was first handled by a Virginia prosecutor, who resigned under pressure from Donald Trump after his examination into a different political adversary - NY AG Letitia James - did not succeed to initiate prosecution.

Legal Setting

James Comey seemed in positive mood as he walked into the legal venue on Wednesday, chatting with his lawyers and making jokes. He was supported by his wife, his wife and child Maureen Comey, a US lawyer who the Trump administration recently fired.

After listening to the judge recite his constitutional guarantees and the pair of allegations against him in the courtroom on mid-week, James Comey was asked if he understood the accusations.

"I do your honour. Appreciate it," he informed the court.

Background Context

James Comey was the chief of the Federal Bureau of Investigation from 2013 to 2017 and was fired about four months into the former president's initial presidency as national leader. At the time, Mr Comey was leading an investigation into international campaign influence and whether there were any connections between Moscow and the election effort.

During his tenure, James Comey sparked a counter-response from Democrats when he declared just immediately preceding the 2016 presidential election that he was probing presidential nominee Clinton's use of a non-governmental email account. Charges against Clinton were never brought, resulting in criticism from conservative politicians as well.

Ongoing Accusations

The federal government allege James Comey lied to Congress during a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing in 2020 when he was being interrogated about both the Clinton investigation as well as the foreign influence inquiry. They claim he misled the upper house by stating he had not authorized a person at the agency to leak to journalistic entities details about the agency probes.

Prosecutors also allege the defendant of "wrongfully trying to influence, obstruct and delay" the committee by giving misleading testimony to it.

Individual Responses

Via social media the former director posted to his online platform after he was accused, he said he was wrongly accused and accused Trump of acting like a "dictator".

"My family and I have been aware for considerable time that there are ramifications to opposing the former president," he stated. "We choose not to live on our bended knee."

"I'm innocent," he continued. "Therefore proceed with a trial."

The charges against the former director emerged after Trump posted on online platforms insisting on his chief prosecutor, the attorney general, prosecute the former director and additional individuals.