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Ex- FBI chief James the former director has pleaded not guilty to making false statements to lawmakers and obstructing a congressional proceeding.

His lawyer submitted the plea acting as his counsel in a national courtroom in the Virginia city of Alexandria on mid-week.

The defense lawyer declared he would attempt to have the legal matter terminated for various factors including that his the accused, a detractor of former President Trump, was being singled out.

The former director was formally accused just days after Donald Trump urged his top legal official to take action against him.

Judicial Process

At the proceedings on mid-week, Comey's lawyer Patrick Fitzgerald advised the magistrate they intended to present various petitions to throw out the case before a legal hearing, claiming the legal action was vindictive and that a government lawyer was wrongfully appointed to assume control of the proceedings.

Mr Comey's case was first handled by Erik Siebert, who stepped down under influence from Donald Trump after his probe into another political adversary - NY AG Letitia James - failed to initiate prosecution.

Legal Setting

James Comey came across in optimistic frame of mind as he entered the court on Wednesday, chatting with his lawyers and sharing humor. He was accompanied by his spouse, his wife and child Maureen Comey, a federal prosecutor who the previous administration recently fired.

After listening to the court read his legal protections and the two counts against him in court on mid-week, Mr Comey was asked if he understood the accusations.

"Yes your honour. Thank you," he stated to the judge.

Previous Events

Mr Comey was the chief of the Federal Bureau of Investigation from four years and was fired about four months into Donald Trump's first term as commander-in-chief. At the period, he was overseeing an probe into Russian election interference and whether there were any connections between the Russian government and the presidential campaign.

During his tenure, the director triggered a negative reaction from Democrats when he announced just immediately preceding the national vote that he was probing Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton's use of a private email server. Charges against Clinton were not pursued, resulting in disapproval from conservative politicians as well.

Ongoing Accusations

The federal government allege Mr Comey gave untrue statements to US lawmakers during a legislative proceeding in recent years when he was being examined about both the previous examination as well as the foreign influence inquiry. They claim he misled the upper house by saying he had not permitted a person at the FBI to leak to news outlets details about the FBI investigations.

Prosecutors also accuse the defendant of "improperly attempting to sway, block and delay" the legislative group by providing untrue information to it.

Individual Responses

In a video Mr Comey published to his Instagram after he was indicted, he stated he was innocent and alleged Donald Trump of behaving like a "autocrat".

"My family and I have known for considerable time that there are consequences to standing up to Donald Trump," he commented. "We refuse to live on our bended knee."

"I have done nothing wrong," he stated further. "So let's have a legal proceeding."

The charges against Mr Comey emerged after the former president shared on digital channels demanding his top legal official, the attorney general, prosecute James Comey and additional individuals.