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Former Federal Bureau of Investigation director James Comey has denied the charges to making false statements to lawmakers and impeding a legislative process.

His lawyer submitted the response representing him in a federal court in the Virginia city of Alexandria on Wednesday.

Patrick Fitzgerald stated he would attempt to have the legal matter thrown out for multiple causes including that his client, a critic of President Donald Trump, was being singled out.

James Comey was indicted just days after Trump pressured his chief prosecutor to proceed against him.

Legal Proceedings

At the proceedings on Wednesday, his attorney Patrick Fitzgerald informed the judge they intended to present multiple legal requests to dismiss the proceedings before a court case, claiming the government's case was vindictive and that a US attorney was improperly assigned to take over the legal matter.

The former director's case was originally overseen by Erik Siebert, who stepped down under pressure from Trump after his examination into a different rival - NY AG Letitia James - did not succeed to file indictments.

Legal Setting

Mr Comey came across in good spirits as he entered the court on mid-week, conversing with his lawyers and sharing humor. He was joined by his partner, his wife and offspring his daughter, a government attorney who the previous administration dismissed.

After listening to the judge recite his constitutional guarantees and the pair of allegations against him in the courtroom on Wednesday, James Comey was asked if he grasped the allegations.

"Absolutely your honour. Thank you," he stated to the proceedings.

Background Context

The former director was the FBI Director from 2013-2017 and was terminated about a few months into the former president's initial presidency as national leader. At the period, Mr Comey was overseeing an probe into international campaign influence and whether there were any connections between Russia and Trump's campaign.

During his tenure, the director sparked a negative reaction from the Democratic party when he announced just days before the 2016 presidential election that he was investigating political contender Hillary Clinton's use of a private email server. Legal actions against Clinton were never brought, causing negative feedback from conservative politicians as well.

Current Allegations

The federal government assert James Comey provided false information to Congress during a legislative proceeding in recent years when he was being examined about both the Clinton investigation as well as the foreign influence inquiry. They say he misled the Senate by stating he had not authorized a person at the agency to leak to media organizations information about the government examinations.

Government lawyers also accuse Mr Comey of "improperly attempting to sway, block and impede" the panel by providing untrue information to it.

Personal Comments

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

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

"I am not guilty," he stated further. "Therefore proceed with a legal proceeding."

These allegations against Mr Comey came after the former president published on online platforms demanding his chief prosecutor, Pam Bondi, take legal action against James Comey and others.