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Former FBI chief James Comey has pleaded not guilty to giving untrue testimony to lawmakers and obstructing a legislative process.

The former director's attorney submitted the plea acting as his counsel in a federal court in the Virginia city of Alexandria on Wednesday morning.

Patrick Fitzgerald announced he would attempt to have the legal matter dismissed for various reasons including that his defendant, a critic of President Donald Trump, was being selectively prosecuted.

James Comey was indicted soon after Donald Trump pressured his attorney general to take action against him.

Judicial Process

In court on Wednesday, Comey's lawyer Patrick Fitzgerald advised the court they aimed to submit several petitions to dismiss the legal matter before a trial, stating the prosecution was spiteful and that a US attorney was improperly assigned to handle the case.

James Comey's legal matter was initially overseen by Erik Siebert, who left his position under scrutiny from Trump after his examination into a different rival - NY AG Letitia James - did not succeed to bring criminal charges.

Legal Setting

Mr Comey came across in positive mood as he came into the court on mid-week, chatting with his legal team and making jokes. He was supported by his partner, Mrs Failor and offspring his daughter, a federal prosecutor who the previous administration terminated.

Upon hearing to the magistrate recite his rights and the pair of allegations against him in legal proceedings on mid-week, Mr Comey was asked if he understood the charges.

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

Historical Information

The former director was the FBI Director from four years and was dismissed about several months into the former president's first term as national leader. At the moment, the director was overseeing an examination into Russian election interference and whether there were any relationships between Russia and the presidential campaign.

Throughout his leadership, the director sparked a counter-response from the Democratic party when he announced just immediately preceding the national vote that he was investigating political contender Clinton's use of a private email server. Indictments against Hillary Clinton were never brought, leading to negative feedback from Republicans as well.

Current Allegations

Prosecutors assert Mr Comey provided false information to the legislature during a congressional hearing in 2020 when he was being questioned about both the Clinton investigation as well as the election interference investigation. They allege he deceived the legislative body by stating he had not permitted a person at the FBI to release to news outlets information about the government examinations.

Legal representatives also allege the defendant of "wrongfully trying to affect, obstruct and delay" the committee by providing untrue information to it.

Individual Responses

Via social media the former director posted to his online platform after he was indicted, he declared he was wrongly accused and accused the former president of conducting himself like a "dictator".

"My family and I have known for considerable time that there are costs to standing up to the former president," he stated. "We choose not to live on our bended knee."

"I am not guilty," he stated further. "Therefore proceed with a court case."

The accusations against Mr Comey came after the former president posted on social media insisting on his attorney general, Pam Bondi, charge the former director and additional individuals.