Former FBI director Comey pleads not guilty to federal charges
發佈日期: 2025-10-09 20:04
TVB News
Former FBI Director James Comey has pleaded not guilty to criminal charges in a case that highlights the U.S. Justice Department's efforts to target President Donald Trump's perceived foes.
A judge of the Eastern District of Virginia has scheduled his trial to begin on January 5th next year.
In September, 64-year-old James Comey was indicted by a federal grand jury on two felony charges - making a false statement to Congress and obstruction of a congressional proceeding.
The indictment was secured just days after the president demanded a faster pace in the prosecutor's action against Comey.
Several family members of Comey arrived at a Virginia courthouse on Wednesday for his first court appearance.
The arraignment, which lasted less than an hour, was loaded with concerns that the Justice Department is being weaponised in pursuit of Trump's political adversaries.
Comey reportedly sat quietly throughout the brief hearing and indicated he understood his legal rights, without making any other public statements on the day.
An AP journalist said: "I was in the courtroom where former FBI Director James Comey just pleaded not guilty in the Justice Department case, accusing him of lying to Congress in 2020."
"This kicks off what we expect is going to be a legal battle over these charges. Comey's defence lawyers suggested at the hearing today that they're going to seek to have the charges dismissed before trial by arguing that it was a vindictive prosecution brought at the direction of President Trump."
Comey's lawyer, Patrick Fitzgerald, says he planned a barrage of legal challenges.
The motions would be centred on accusations of a vindictive or selective prosecution, and the legality of the appointment and conduct of prosecutor Lindsey Halligan, who previously served as Trump's personal attorney.
Comey has denied any wrongdoing and said he's looking forward to a trial, which the district judge set for early January.
He was released on his own recognizance after the arraignment.
Comey was sacked in 2017 over his handling of an investigation into contacts between Russia and Trump's 2016 campaign.
The indictment accuses him of authorising an FBI employee to disclose information about the probe.
Over 1,000 Justice Department alumni have signed a letter, describing the case against Comey as "an unprecedented assault on the rule of law."
