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Former FBI director James the ex-FBI chief has denied the charges to providing misleading information to congressional representatives and hindering a lawmaking procedure.

The former director's attorney entered the response acting as his counsel in a US district court in Alexandria, Virginia on mid-week.

Patrick Fitzgerald stated he would attempt to have the case thrown out for various factors including that his client, a critic of Donald Trump, was being targeted.

Mr Comey was charged just days after Donald Trump pressured his attorney general to move forward against him.

Judicial Process

During the hearing on Wednesday, the defense counsel Mr Fitzgerald informed the judge they intended to file multiple legal requests to dismiss the legal matter before a court case, claiming the government's case was vindictive and that a government lawyer was improperly assigned to handle the legal matter.

The former director's case was originally overseen by Erik Siebert, who stepped down under influence from Donald Trump after his examination into another opponent - NY AG Letitia James - failed to initiate prosecution.

Legal Setting

The former director seemed in optimistic frame of mind as he came into the courtroom on mid-week, conversing with his attorneys and being lighthearted. He was accompanied by his partner, his wife and offspring Maureen, a US lawyer who the previous administration recently fired.

After listening to the magistrate state his constitutional guarantees and the two counts against him in court on Wednesday, the defendant was questioned if he comprehended the accusations.

"I do your honour. Thank you," he told the proceedings.

Background Context

James Comey was the head of the FBI from 2013-2017 and was fired about several months into the former president's first administration as commander-in-chief. At the moment, the director was directing an examination into international campaign influence and whether there were any connections between the Russian government and Trump's campaign.

Throughout his leadership, Mr Comey sparked a counter-response from the Democratic party when he announced just days before the national vote that he was probing Democratic candidate Clinton's use of a personal email system. Legal actions against the candidate were never brought, causing criticism from the Republican party as well.

Present Charges

Government attorneys allege Mr Comey gave untrue statements to US lawmakers during a congressional hearing in recent years when he was being examined about both the Clinton investigation as well as the Russia election probe. They allege he misled the legislative body by saying he had not approved someone at the FBI to leak to media organizations information about the FBI investigations.

Legal representatives also accuse James Comey of "wrongfully trying to sway, block and impede" the legislative group by providing untrue information to it.

Public Statements

Through a recording the former director posted to his Instagram after he was indicted, he said he was innocent and accused Donald Trump of behaving like a "autocrat".

"We have known for considerable time that there are ramifications to opposing the former president," he stated. "We will not live on our kneeling."

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

The accusations against the former director emerged after Donald Trump shared on online platforms insisting on his chief prosecutor, the attorney general, prosecute James Comey and additional individuals.