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Previous FBI head James the former director has pleaded not guilty to making false statements to US legislators and impeding a legislative process.

His lawyer filed the plea representing him in a federal court in Alexandria, Virginia on Wednesday morning.

His attorney declared he would seek to have the proceedings thrown out for various factors including that his defendant, a critic of Donald Trump, was being selectively prosecuted.

The former director was formally accused shortly after Trump pushed his attorney general to proceed against him.

Judicial Process

During the hearing on Wednesday, his attorney Patrick Fitzgerald advised the court they planned to submit several legal requests to throw out the case before a legal hearing, claiming the prosecution was vindictive and that a government lawyer was improperly appointed to assume control of the legal matter.

Mr Comey's legal matter was initially handled by a Virginia prosecutor, who resigned under pressure from Donald Trump after his investigation into another rival - New York Attorney General Letitia James - did not succeed to file indictments.

Judicial Environment

Mr Comey seemed in good spirits as he came into the legal venue on Wednesday, speaking with his attorneys and sharing humor. He was accompanied by his spouse, his wife and offspring Maureen Comey, a government attorney who the Trump administration recently fired.

Upon hearing to the magistrate state his legal protections and the dual charges against him in court on Wednesday, the defendant was questioned if he understood the allegations.

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

Background Context

Mr Comey was the FBI Director from 2013 to 2017 and was dismissed about a few months into Trump's first administration as national leader. At the moment, the director was leading an investigation into international campaign influence and whether there were any links between Russia and Trump's campaign.

While in office, the director sparked a negative reaction from the Democratic party when he stated just immediately preceding the 2016 election that he was examining presidential nominee Clinton's use of a private email server. Legal actions against Hillary Clinton were not pursued, leading to criticism from Republicans as well.

Ongoing Accusations

Government attorneys allege James Comey provided false information to the legislature during a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing in recent years when he was being questioned about both the previous examination as well as the election interference investigation. They claim he provided false information to the upper house by claiming he had not authorized someone at the Federal Bureau of Investigation to disclose to news outlets data about the government examinations.

Prosecutors also accuse Mr Comey of "wrongfully trying to affect, hinder and impede" the panel by making false statements to it.

Personal Comments

Through a recording Mr Comey published to his social media after he was accused, he declared he was innocent and accused Donald Trump of acting like a "autocrat".

"My family and I have understood for a long time that there are costs to opposing the former president," he said. "We will not live on our knees."

"I am not guilty," he continued. "Thus initiate a court case."

The charges against James Comey surfaced after Trump published on online platforms calling for his chief prosecutor, the attorney general, take legal action against Mr Comey and others.