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Ex- Federal Bureau of Investigation head James Comey has pleaded not guilty to providing misleading information to US legislators and hindering a legislative process.

His legal representative submitted the answer representing him in a US district court in the Virginia city of Alexandria on Wednesday morning.

Patrick Fitzgerald declared he would seek to have the case terminated for several factors including that his defendant, a critic of Donald Trump, was being targeted.

Mr Comey was formally accused just days after Trump pressured his chief prosecutor to proceed against him.

Legal Proceedings

At the proceedings on Wednesday, Comey's lawyer Mr Fitzgerald told the magistrate they intended to present multiple petitions to throw out the legal matter before a trial, stating the government's case was spiteful and that a federal prosecutor was improperly appointed to handle the case.

The former director's proceedings was originally overseen by the original attorney, who left his position under pressure from Trump after his examination into an additional opponent - New York Attorney General Letitia James - failed to initiate prosecution.

Judicial Environment

Mr Comey appeared in good spirits as he came into the courtroom on Wednesday, speaking with his legal team and sharing humor. He was accompanied by his wife, Patrice Failor and daughter Maureen, a US lawyer who the former government recently fired.

Following the reading to the court state his legal protections and the two counts against him in court on Wednesday, James Comey was inquired if he grasped the charges.

"I do your honour. Thank you very much," he stated to the proceedings.

Previous Events

James Comey was the head of the FBI from 2013-2017 and was dismissed about several months into Donald Trump's first term as commander-in-chief. At the time, Mr Comey was directing an investigation into foreign election meddling and whether there were any relationships between Moscow and the election effort.

While in office, Mr Comey sparked a counter-response from Democrats when he announced just days before the 2016 election that he was examining political contender the candidate's use of a non-governmental email account. Charges against the candidate were not pursued, resulting in disapproval from Republicans as well.

Current Allegations

Government attorneys claim James Comey lied to the legislature during a congressional hearing in September 2020 when he was being questioned about both the Clinton investigation as well as the foreign influence inquiry. They claim he misled the Senate by stating he had not permitted a person at the FBI to release to media organizations details about the government examinations.

Prosecutors also accuse the defendant of "wrongfully trying to affect, hinder and delay" the committee by giving misleading testimony to it.

Personal Comments

In a video the former director published to his Instagram after he was charged, he said he was not guilty and charged the former president of acting like a "autocrat".

"Our household have been aware for a long time that there are consequences to opposing Donald Trump," he said. "We will not live on our kneeling."

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

The charges against the former director came after the former president published on social media insisting on his chief prosecutor, Pam Bondi, take legal action against the former director and other people.