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Previous FBI head James the ex-FBI chief has denied the charges to providing misleading information to US legislators and obstructing a legislative process.

Mr Comey's legal representative entered the plea on his behalf in a national courtroom in the Virginia city of Alexandria on Wednesday morning.

His attorney announced he would attempt to have the proceedings dismissed for various factors including that his the accused, a detractor of former President Trump, was being targeted.

James Comey was indicted just days after Trump pressured his chief prosecutor to move forward against him.

Legal Proceedings

During the hearing on Wednesday, the defense counsel Patrick Fitzgerald told the magistrate they aimed to submit various legal requests to throw out the case before a trial, claiming the government's case was vindictive and that a US attorney was improperly assigned to take over the case.

James Comey's case was originally overseen by Erik Siebert, who left his position under influence from the former president after his investigation into another political adversary - New York Attorney General Letitia James - was unable to file indictments.

Legal Setting

The former director came across in optimistic frame of mind as he came into the court on Wednesday, conversing with his attorneys and sharing humor. He was joined by his partner, his wife and child his daughter, a government attorney who the Trump administration dismissed.

After listening to the judge state his constitutional guarantees and the dual charges against him in legal proceedings on mid-week, the defendant was asked if he grasped the allegations.

"Absolutely your honour. Thank you," he told the proceedings.

Background Context

The former director was the FBI Director from 2013-2017 and was terminated about several months into the former president's initial presidency as commander-in-chief. At the time, Mr Comey was leading an probe into international campaign influence and whether there were any relationships between the Russian government and Trump's campaign.

During his tenure, James Comey triggered a negative reaction from liberal politicians when he stated just days before the 2016 election that he was examining presidential nominee Clinton's use of a personal email system. Legal actions against the candidate were never brought, causing negative feedback from conservative politicians as well.

Present Charges

Prosecutors allege James Comey gave untrue statements to the legislature during a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing in recent years when he was being questioned about both the Clinton investigation as well as the Russia election probe. They say he provided false information to the Senate by claiming he had not approved someone at the agency to release to news outlets information about the FBI investigations.

Prosecutors also accuse the defendant of "corruptly endeavoring to affect, block and slow" the panel by providing untrue information to it.

Individual Responses

Through a recording James Comey published to his Instagram after he was accused, he said he was wrongly accused and accused the former president of behaving like a "autocrat".

"My family and I have understood for considerable time that there are ramifications to standing up to Mr Trump," he said. "We refuse to live on our kneeling."

"I am not guilty," he added. "So let's have a legal proceeding."

The charges against the former director came after Donald Trump published on social media calling for his attorney general, Ms Bondi, take legal action against Mr Comey and others.