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Former Federal Bureau of Investigation chief James the ex-FBI chief has denied the charges to giving untrue testimony to lawmakers and hindering a congressional proceeding.

The former director's lawyer submitted the response acting as his counsel in a US district court in the Virginia city of Alexandria on Wednesday.

His attorney declared he would seek to have the proceedings dismissed for various factors including that his the accused, a critic of former President Trump, was being targeted.

James Comey was formally accused just days after Trump pressured his chief prosecutor to take action against him.

Judicial Process

During the hearing on Wednesday, Comey's lawyer Mr Fitzgerald informed the magistrate they planned to present several motions to throw out the case before a trial, stating the prosecution was spiteful and that a government lawyer was wrongfully designated to assume control of the proceedings.

Mr Comey's proceedings was first managed by Erik Siebert, who stepped down under scrutiny from Donald Trump after his probe into another political adversary - New York Attorney General Letitia James - did not succeed to bring criminal charges.

Legal Setting

James Comey seemed in positive mood as he came into the court on mid-week, chatting with his lawyers and sharing humor. He was accompanied by his wife, Patrice Failor and offspring his daughter, a government attorney who the former government recently fired.

Following the reading to the court state his constitutional guarantees and the two counts against him in legal proceedings on mid-week, Mr Comey was asked if he comprehended the accusations.

"Yes your honour. Thank you," he informed the proceedings.

Historical Information

Mr Comey was the chief of the Federal Bureau of Investigation from 2013 to 2017 and was terminated about four months into the former president's first term as commander-in-chief. At the moment, he was overseeing an probe into international campaign influence and whether there were any relationships between the Russian government and Trump's campaign.

While in office, Mr Comey sparked a backlash from Democrats when he declared just shortly prior to the 2016 presidential election that he was examining presidential nominee Hillary Clinton's use of a private email server. Charges against Clinton were not filed, resulting in negative feedback from the Republican party as well.

Current Allegations

Government attorneys claim the former director provided false information to US lawmakers during a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing in September 2020 when he was being examined about both the Clinton investigation as well as the Russia election probe. They allege he provided false information to the legislative body by stating he had not permitted a person at the agency to disclose to news outlets information about the agency probes.

Prosecutors also accuse James Comey of "improperly attempting to sway, block and slow" the legislative group by giving misleading testimony to it.

Individual Responses

Through a recording Mr Comey shared to his Instagram after he was indicted, he declared he was not guilty and accused Donald Trump of behaving like a "tyrant".

"My family and I have understood for a long time that there are ramifications to standing up to Mr Trump," he stated. "We choose not to live on our bended knee."

"I have done nothing wrong," he stated further. "Thus initiate a legal proceeding."

The accusations against James Comey surfaced after the former president published on social media demanding his top legal official, Pam Bondi, prosecute the former director and others.