James Comey, the former director of the US Federal Bureau of Investigation, has pleaded not guilty to making false statements to lawmakers and obstructing a congressional proceeding. Mr. Comey's lawyer entered the plea on his behalf in a federal court in Alexandria, Virginia, on Wednesday morning. Patrick Fitzgerald said he would seek to have the case dismissed for several reasons including that his client, a critic of President Donald Trump, was being targeted. Mr. Comey was indicted a few days after Trump urged his attorney general to take action against him. A judge set a trial date of 5 January after Mr. Comey's lawyers requested a speedy trial. Both the prosecution and defence expected the trial to last just two to three days.
In court on Wednesday, Comey's lawyer Patrick Fitzgerald told the judge they planned to file several motions to dismiss the case before a trial, arguing the prosecution was vindictive and that a US attorney was unlawfully appointed to take over the case. Mr. Comey's case was originally overseen by Erik Siebert, a Virginia prosecutor who resigned under pressure from Trump after his investigation into another political adversary - New York Attorney General Letitia James - failed to bring criminal charges. Trump then appointed Lindsey Halligan to replace him.
Mr. Comey appeared in good spirits as he entered the courtroom on Wednesday, chatting with his attorneys and making jokes. He was joined by his wife, Patrice Failor, and daughter Maureen Comey, a federal prosecutor who the Trump administration recently fired.
After listening to the judge read his rights and the two charges against him in court on Wednesday, Mr. Comey was asked if he understood the charges. I do your honour. Thank you very much, he responded.
US District Judge Michael Nachmanoff stated that the two charges each carry a penalty of up to five years in prison and a fine of up to a $200,000 (£149,442). Representing the government, Ms. Halligan took over the role of top federal prosecutor in Virginia's eastern district in September. In less than a week on the job, she secured a grand jury indictment against Mr. Comey after prosecutors before her had declined to take on the case due to a lack of evidence. The hasty turnaround was reflected in Wednesday's court proceedings, when defence lawyers complained they did not have access to classified documents that prosecutors intended to submit as evidence. Judge Nachmanoff warned the government: I will not slow this case down because the government does not promptly turn over information.
Mr. Comey, who served as FBI Director from 2013 to 2017, was fired about four months into Trump's presidency while he was overseeing investigations into Russian election interference. He has been an open critic of Trump since leaving government, accusing the former president of acting like a tyrant. In a video posted on his Instagram after the indictment, Mr. Comey insisted on his innocence, stating, We're not going to live on our knees. Let's have a trial.\
In court on Wednesday, Comey's lawyer Patrick Fitzgerald told the judge they planned to file several motions to dismiss the case before a trial, arguing the prosecution was vindictive and that a US attorney was unlawfully appointed to take over the case. Mr. Comey's case was originally overseen by Erik Siebert, a Virginia prosecutor who resigned under pressure from Trump after his investigation into another political adversary - New York Attorney General Letitia James - failed to bring criminal charges. Trump then appointed Lindsey Halligan to replace him.
Mr. Comey appeared in good spirits as he entered the courtroom on Wednesday, chatting with his attorneys and making jokes. He was joined by his wife, Patrice Failor, and daughter Maureen Comey, a federal prosecutor who the Trump administration recently fired.
After listening to the judge read his rights and the two charges against him in court on Wednesday, Mr. Comey was asked if he understood the charges. I do your honour. Thank you very much, he responded.
US District Judge Michael Nachmanoff stated that the two charges each carry a penalty of up to five years in prison and a fine of up to a $200,000 (£149,442). Representing the government, Ms. Halligan took over the role of top federal prosecutor in Virginia's eastern district in September. In less than a week on the job, she secured a grand jury indictment against Mr. Comey after prosecutors before her had declined to take on the case due to a lack of evidence. The hasty turnaround was reflected in Wednesday's court proceedings, when defence lawyers complained they did not have access to classified documents that prosecutors intended to submit as evidence. Judge Nachmanoff warned the government: I will not slow this case down because the government does not promptly turn over information.
Mr. Comey, who served as FBI Director from 2013 to 2017, was fired about four months into Trump's presidency while he was overseeing investigations into Russian election interference. He has been an open critic of Trump since leaving government, accusing the former president of acting like a tyrant. In a video posted on his Instagram after the indictment, Mr. Comey insisted on his innocence, stating, We're not going to live on our knees. Let's have a trial.\
