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Previous Federal Bureau of Investigation director James the ex-FBI chief has entered an innocent plea to providing misleading information to US legislators and impeding a congressional proceeding.

The former director's lawyer entered the plea representing him in a federal court in the Virginia city of Alexandria on mid-week.

The defense lawyer announced he would attempt to have the legal matter thrown out for several causes including that his client, a detractor of President Donald Trump, was being targeted.

The former director was formally accused soon after Trump pressured his top legal official to move forward against him.

Legal Proceedings

At the proceedings on Wednesday, his attorney Mr Fitzgerald told the judge they planned to submit multiple motions to throw out the proceedings before a trial, claiming the legal action was spiteful and that a government lawyer was improperly appointed to handle the legal matter.

James Comey's case was originally handled by the original attorney, who left his position under scrutiny from the former president after his examination into another political adversary - the New York official - did not succeed to initiate prosecution.

Legal Setting

Mr Comey seemed in positive mood as he walked into the court on mid-week, chatting with his lawyers and sharing humor. He was supported by his spouse, his wife and child Maureen Comey, a federal prosecutor who the previous administration recently fired.

After listening to the judge state his rights and the two counts against him in the courtroom on Wednesday, the defendant was asked if he grasped the allegations.

"Absolutely your honour. Appreciate it," he told the proceedings.

Historical Information

James Comey was the chief of the Federal Bureau of Investigation from 2013 to 2017 and was dismissed about four months into Trump's first term as commander-in-chief. At the period, the director was directing an investigation into international campaign influence and whether there were any relationships between the Russian government and the presidential campaign.

During his tenure, James Comey sparked a negative reaction from the Democratic party when he stated just days before the national vote that he was probing Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton's use of a non-governmental email account. Charges against Hillary Clinton were not pursued, causing disapproval from Republicans as well.

Ongoing Accusations

The federal government claim James Comey gave untrue statements to US lawmakers during a legislative proceeding in recent years when he was being interrogated about both the email probe as well as the Russia election probe. They say he misled the upper house by saying he had not authorized an individual at the Federal Bureau of Investigation to release to news outlets data about the FBI investigations.

Government lawyers also accuse James Comey of "wrongfully trying to sway, obstruct and delay" the legislative group by making false statements to it.

Public Statements

In a video James Comey shared to his Instagram after he was indicted, he declared he was innocent and charged the former president of behaving like a "tyrant".

"We have been aware for considerable time that there are costs to standing up to Donald Trump," he stated. "We will not live on our knees."

"I am not guilty," he continued. "So let's have a court case."

The charges against the former director surfaced after Donald Trump published on digital channels insisting on his attorney general, Pam Bondi, take legal action against Mr Comey and other people.