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Ex- FBI director James Comey has entered an innocent plea to providing misleading information to US legislators and obstructing a legislative process.

Mr Comey's lawyer entered the plea representing him in a federal court in Alexandria, Virginia on mid-week.

His attorney stated he would try to have the proceedings terminated for various reasons including that his the accused, a critic of President Donald Trump, was being singled out.

James Comey was formally accused shortly after the former president pushed his attorney general to proceed against him.

Legal Proceedings

During the hearing on Wednesday, his attorney the legal representative informed the magistrate they intended to file several legal requests to terminate the proceedings before a court case, stating the government's case was retaliatory and that a government lawyer was unlawfully designated to take over the proceedings.

The former director's legal matter was initially handled by a Virginia prosecutor, who left his position under scrutiny from the former president after his investigation into another rival - New York Attorney General Letitia James - did not succeed to initiate prosecution.

Judicial Environment

James Comey came across in optimistic frame of mind as he entered the legal venue on mid-week, speaking with his lawyers and making jokes. He was supported by his partner, his wife and daughter Maureen Comey, a federal prosecutor who the previous administration terminated.

Upon hearing to the magistrate read his legal protections and the pair of allegations against him in court on Wednesday, Mr Comey was questioned if he grasped the allegations.

"Yes your honour. Thank you very much," he stated to the judge.

Background Context

The former director was the chief of the Federal Bureau of Investigation from 2013-2017 and was fired about several months into Trump's first term as national leader. At the period, the director was leading an examination into Russian election interference and whether there were any connections between Moscow and the presidential campaign.

While in office, Mr Comey sparked a counter-response from the Democratic party when he declared just days before the national vote that he was probing Democratic candidate Clinton's use of a non-governmental email account. Indictments against the candidate were not filed, causing disapproval from conservative politicians as well.

Present Charges

Government attorneys assert James Comey lied to US lawmakers during a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing in recent years when he was being questioned about both the previous examination as well as the foreign influence inquiry. They claim he deceived the upper house by stating he had not approved someone at the FBI to leak to news outlets information about the agency probes.

Government lawyers also accuse James Comey of "improperly attempting to sway, hinder and slow" the legislative group by giving misleading testimony to it.

Public Statements

Through a recording James Comey posted to his online platform after he was charged, he declared he was innocent and accused the former president of behaving like a "dictator".

"We have understood for considerable time that there are ramifications to challenging the former president," he said. "We choose not to live on our knees."

"I'm innocent," he continued. "So let's have a trial."

The accusations against James Comey surfaced after Donald Trump shared on online platforms demanding his attorney general, the attorney general, take legal action against James Comey and other people.