Former FBI Director James Comey pleaded not guilty on Wednesday to felony charges in a high-profile case widely interpreted as part of President Donald Trump’s campaign against political opponents.
Comey, 64, was indicted last month on allegations of making false statements to Congress and obstructing a congressional proceeding. The charges relate to his sworn testimony before the Senate Judiciary Committee in 2020 during the probe into Russian interference in the 2016 U.S. presidential election. He is accused of falsely denying that he authorized another FBI employee to act as an anonymous source for news reports. If convicted, Comey faces up to five years in prison.
During his arraignment in Alexandria, Virginia, Comey’s lawyer, Patrick Fitzgerald, entered a not guilty plea and announced plans to file a motion to dismiss the case, describing it as a vindictive and selective prosecution. Comey himself spoke briefly, confirming he understood the charges. District Judge Michael Nachmanoff set the trial date for January 5 and did not impose any conditions on Comey’s release.
The indictment follows public pressure from Trump, who urged the Justice Department to take action against Comey and others he views as adversaries. Trump praised the indictment, calling Comey “one of the worst human beings this country has ever been exposed to.”
The case has raised concerns about the independence of the Justice Department. The original U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia reportedly found insufficient evidence against Comey but was replaced by Lindsey Halligan, a former Trump lawyer, who secured the indictment. Comey’s defense plans to challenge Halligan’s appointment as unlawful.
Comey, appointed FBI Director by Barack Obama in 2013 and fired by Trump in 2017, has said his family has long understood “the costs of standing up to Donald Trump.” Members of his family, including daughter Maurene and wife Patrice Failor, attended Wednesday’s proceedings.
This latest legal confrontation underscores the growing political and legal entanglements surrounding Trump and his former critics, signaling a tense courtroom showdown in the months ahead.
