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 stated that he would seek to have the case dismissed on grounds of political targeting, alleging that his client was singled out because of his criticism of President Donald Trump.
The indictment against Mr. Comey came shortly after Trump urged his attorney general to take action against him. A trial has been scheduled for January 5 after Mr. Comey's legal team requested a speedy trial.
Both the prosecution and defense anticipate that the trial will last just two to three days. Fitzgerald indicated plans to file several motions to dismiss, asserting the prosecution was vindictive and the appointment of a US attorney to handle the case was unlawful.
The original prosecutor, Erik Siebert, had resigned under pressure from Trump after failing to bring criminal charges against a political adversary. Lindsey Halligan, recently appointed by Trump, took over the prosecution and quickly secured a grand jury indictment against Comey.
During the courtroom proceedings, Comey appeared optimistic, engaging in light conversation with his attorneys and family members, including his daughter, who is also a federal prosecutor.
Judge Michael Nachmanoff informed Comey that each of the charges against him could result in a penalty of up to five years in prison and fines reaching $200,000.
The federal charges allege that Comey provided misleading testimony during a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing and attempted to hinder the investigation by making false statements.
In a recent social media video, Comey proclaimed his innocence and accused Trump of tyranny, asserting his family's commitment to standing firm against such pressure.
Comey served as FBI Director from 2013 until his dismissal by Trump in 2017, amid a contentious investigation into Russian election interference.
Throughout his tenure, Comey faced criticism from both political sides, notably for his announcement regarding the Clinton email investigation. After leaving office, he has been vocally critical of the Trump administration.
