Former FBI Director, James Comey has pleaded not guilty to criminal charges alleging that he made false statements to Congress and obstructed a congressional investigation.
The case, widely viewed as politically sensitive, has intensified concerns that the Justice Department is being used to target adversaries of President Donald Trump.
Comey, 64, a prominent critic of the US President, was indicted by a grand jury last month on charges of making false statements to Congress and obstructing a congressional proceeding.
The two-count indictment alleges that Comey falsely told the Senate Judiciary Committee on September 30, 2020, that he had not authorized an associate to serve as an anonymous source to the media, and that he obstructed a congressional proceeding.
The case follows Trump publicly urging Attorney General, Pam Bondi to take action against Comey and other political adversaries.
Lindsey Halligan, installed as US Attorney shortly before the indictment, filed charges despite warnings from career prosecutors. Two additional prosecutors from North Carolina were assigned to the case.
The arraignment, held in federal court in Alexandria, Virginia, lasted less than 30 minutes.
Several Comey family members attended the arraignment, including his daughter Maurene, recently fired from her federal prosecutor role in Manhattan, and his son-in-law, Troy Edwards Jr., who resigned from his post in the Eastern District of Virginia following Comey’s indictment.
Comey was ushered into the courtroom alongside his lawyers Patrick Fitzgerald and Jessica Carmichael.
After listening to the judge read his rights and the two counts against him, Comey was asked if he understood the charges. “I do your honour. Thank you very much,” he remarked.
Comey’s lawyer, Patrick Fitzgerald, entered a not guilty plea before District Judge Michael Nachmanoff during the arraignment in the packed federal courtroom in Alexandria, Virginia.
Fitzgerald called the prosecution politically motivated and said that his team plans to file motions to dismiss the case, including challenges to the appointment of US Attorney Lindsey Halligan, a former personal lawyer to Trump with no prior federal prosecutorial experience.
The court has also set procedural deadlines for 19 November and 9 December.
Comey Trial Date Set For Next Year
The former FBI Director’s false statements case has been tentatively scheduled to begin on January 5, 2926.
Comey will not be held in custody between now and his trial in the new year. Government lawyers confirmed that they were not seeking his detention.
Judge Michael Nachmanoff appeared to expect both sides to agree to a speedy trial deadline of 17 December. However, Comey’s team said they would not be ready by then, and both parties agreed to 5 January for the start.
Nathaniel Lemons, representing the government, told the judge “we’re just getting our hands around the discovery as well” – which, he added, included some classified material.
Fitzgerald, representing Comey, said that he did not have access to any of the classified information the government intended to use as evidence, which was part of his reason for wanting to extend the trial start date.
He stated, “We feel the cart has been put before the horse,” referring to the pre-trial material he didn’t have, like access to classified documents.
During the short hearing, the judge warned the prosecution to stay on track with the prompt submission of motions. “I will not slow this case down because the government does not promptly turn information over,” the judge asserted. He also said he did not want briefs of more than 10 pages.
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