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Ex- Federal Bureau of Investigation director James Comey has entered an innocent plea to giving untrue testimony to congressional representatives and impeding a lawmaking procedure.

The former director's legal representative filed the plea acting as his counsel in a US district court in Alexandria, Virginia on Wednesday morning.

The defense lawyer announced he would try to have the case terminated for several reasons including that his defendant, a detractor of President Donald Trump, was being selectively prosecuted.

James Comey was charged soon after Donald Trump urged his top legal official to move forward against him.

Legal Proceedings

In court on mid-week, Comey's lawyer Patrick Fitzgerald informed the magistrate they planned to file multiple motions to dismiss the proceedings before a trial, claiming the legal action was vindictive and that a government lawyer was unlawfully appointed to take over the legal matter.

James Comey's case was originally handled by a Virginia prosecutor, who resigned under scrutiny from Donald Trump after his investigation into another opponent - the New York official - did not succeed to file indictments.

Legal Setting

The former director came across in good spirits as he walked into the court on Wednesday, conversing with his attorneys and being lighthearted. He was joined by his spouse, his wife and child his daughter, a federal prosecutor who the former government recently fired.

After listening to the magistrate read his constitutional guarantees and the dual charges against him in court on Wednesday, the defendant was inquired if he understood the charges.

"Yes your honour. Thank you," he told the judge.

Previous Events

James Comey was the chief of the Federal Bureau of Investigation from four years and was fired about a few months into the former president's first term as commander-in-chief. At the period, Mr Comey was overseeing an investigation into Russian election interference and whether there were any links between Moscow and the election effort.

Throughout his leadership, the director triggered a counter-response from liberal politicians when he declared just shortly prior to the national vote that he was probing Democratic candidate Clinton's use of a non-governmental email account. Legal actions against Clinton were not filed, causing negative feedback from conservative politicians as well.

Current Allegations

The federal government assert Mr Comey provided false information to US lawmakers during a congressional hearing in September 2020 when he was being interrogated about both the Clinton investigation as well as the election interference investigation. They allege he misled the upper house by stating he had not authorized a person at the Federal Bureau of Investigation to release to journalistic entities details about the agency probes.

Legal representatives also allege Mr Comey of "wrongfully trying to influence, block and impede" the legislative group by giving misleading testimony to it.

Personal Comments

Through a recording Mr Comey shared to his online platform after he was charged, he said he was innocent and alleged Trump of conducting himself like a "autocrat".

"My family and I have been aware for a long time that there are ramifications to challenging Mr Trump," he said. "We refuse to live on our knees."

"I am not guilty," he stated further. "Thus initiate a trial."

The charges against Mr Comey surfaced after the former president published on social media demanding his attorney general, Ms Bondi, take legal action against James Comey and additional individuals.