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Ex- FBI chief James Comey has pleaded not guilty to making false statements to US legislators and impeding a lawmaking procedure.

The former director's lawyer entered the response on his behalf in a US district court in Alexandria, Virginia on Wednesday morning.

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

Mr Comey was indicted shortly after the former president pushed his attorney general to proceed against him.

Legal Proceedings

At the proceedings on mid-week, Comey's lawyer Mr Fitzgerald told the judge they aimed to submit several motions to throw out the proceedings before a legal hearing, arguing the legal action was vindictive and that a US attorney was wrongfully designated to take over the case.

James Comey's legal matter was first overseen by Erik Siebert, who left his position under scrutiny from the former president after his investigation into a different rival - New York Attorney General Letitia James - was unable to file indictments.

Legal Setting

The former director seemed in positive mood as he walked into the court on Wednesday, speaking with his legal team and making jokes. He was joined by his spouse, Patrice Failor and offspring his daughter, a federal prosecutor who the previous administration recently fired.

Following the reading to the court state his constitutional guarantees and the dual charges against him in the courtroom on mid-week, Mr Comey was questioned if he understood the charges.

"I do your honour. Appreciate it," he stated to the court.

Historical Information

The former director was the FBI Director from 2013-2017 and was terminated about four months into the former president's first administration as president. At the time, Mr Comey was leading an investigation into Russian election interference and whether there were any relationships between Russia and the presidential campaign.

While in office, Mr Comey caused a counter-response from liberal politicians when he announced just shortly prior to the national vote that he was probing presidential nominee Clinton's use of a personal email system. Indictments against Hillary Clinton were not filed, resulting in disapproval from conservative politicians as well.

Present Charges

Government attorneys assert James Comey gave untrue statements to Congress during a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing in recent years when he was being questioned about both the previous examination as well as the foreign influence inquiry. They say he misled the upper house by saying he had not approved a person at the Federal Bureau of Investigation to release to media organizations data about the agency probes.

Legal representatives also charge James Comey of "corruptly endeavoring to sway, block and delay" the legislative group by providing untrue information to it.

Public Statements

Through a recording the former director shared to his online platform after he was accused, he said he was wrongly accused and charged Donald Trump of behaving like a "autocrat".

"My family and I have understood for a long time that there are ramifications to opposing Mr Trump," he stated. "We will not live on our kneeling."

"I'm innocent," he continued. "Thus initiate a court case."

The accusations against Mr Comey came after Trump published on social media demanding his top legal official, Pam Bondi, prosecute James Comey and others.