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Ex- FBI director James Comey has denied the charges to making false statements to lawmakers and obstructing a lawmaking procedure.

His attorney submitted the response acting as his counsel in a national courtroom in Alexandria, Virginia on Wednesday.

Patrick Fitzgerald announced he would try to have the legal matter thrown out for multiple reasons including that his client, a detractor of Donald Trump, was being selectively prosecuted.

The former director was indicted just days after the former president pressured his attorney general to proceed against him.

Court Developments

During the hearing on Wednesday, the defense counsel Mr Fitzgerald advised the judge they aimed to present various petitions to terminate the legal matter before a legal hearing, arguing the government's case was retaliatory and that a government lawyer was improperly assigned to take over the proceedings.

The former director's legal matter was first handled by the original attorney, who stepped down under pressure from the former president after his examination into an additional political adversary - NY AG Letitia James - failed to initiate prosecution.

Legal Setting

The former director seemed in optimistic frame of mind as he came into the legal venue on mid-week, speaking with his legal team and being lighthearted. He was joined by his wife, his wife and offspring his daughter, a government attorney who the former government recently fired.

Following the reading to the magistrate read his rights and the pair of allegations against him in legal proceedings on Wednesday, Mr Comey was asked if he understood the charges.

"I do your honour. Thank you very much," he told the judge.

Background Context

James Comey was the chief of the Federal Bureau of Investigation from 2013 to 2017 and was terminated about four months into Trump's initial presidency as president. At the moment, the director was leading an probe into international campaign influence and whether there were any relationships between Moscow and the election effort.

Throughout his leadership, the director caused a counter-response from liberal politicians when he announced just days before the national vote that he was investigating political contender Clinton's use of a private email server. Indictments against Hillary Clinton were not pursued, resulting in negative feedback from the Republican party as well.

Ongoing Accusations

Prosecutors assert the former director provided false information to Congress during a legislative proceeding in recent years when he was being interrogated about both the Clinton investigation as well as the Russia election probe. They say he deceived the Senate by stating he had not authorized someone at the agency to disclose to news outlets information about the agency probes.

Government lawyers also accuse James Comey of "corruptly endeavoring to affect, block and slow" the legislative group by giving misleading testimony to it.

Individual Responses

Via social media James Comey shared to his online platform after he was indicted, he said he was innocent and alleged Donald Trump of acting like a "autocrat".

"My family and I have understood for years that there are costs to opposing the former president," he commented. "We refuse to live on our knees."

"I'm innocent," he stated further. "Therefore proceed with a trial."

The accusations against Mr Comey came after Trump published on online platforms insisting on his top legal official, the attorney general, prosecute the former director and others.