9:34James Comey makes an appearance in court for his initial hearing, Oct. 8, 2025, in Alexandria, Virginia.Dana Verkourtere
Former FBI Director James Comey entered a plea of not guilty Wednesday regarding both charges in a federal accusation, and his legal representatives voiced they will aim to have the case thrown out due to spiteful and discriminatory prosecution.
A federal jury indicted Comey on Sept. 25, mere days after President Donald Trump openly urged Attorney General Pam Bondi and the Justice Department to act "now" versus Comey and other political adversaries.
Comey is accused of one count of making deceptive assertions and one count of impeding a congressional action, associated with his testimony presented to the Senate Judiciary Committee in 2020.
His lawyer Patrick Fitzgerald entered the plea, and requested a trial by jury.
The judge stated the accusations and said they involve a sentence of potentially five years imprisonment alongside a $250,000 penalty.
He inquired whether Comey comprehended the charges, and he answered, "I do, Your Honor."
The date for a trial was established for Jan. 5.
The judge inquired how lengthy the government foresaw the trial lasting, and the government estimated 2-3 days.
The judge conveyed that he stood prepared to proceed ahead swiftly. The government stated the case seemed "complicated," though appeared not to protest the set trial date in court.
"This doesn't seem to be a complex matter," the judge remarked.
Fitzgerald concurred, stating, "We see this as an uncomplicated case."
Comey has long been a figure of critique from Trump regarding his probe into Russian interference during the 2016 election. Speaking to reporters in the Oval Office on Monday, Trump referred to Comey as a "dirty cop" and asserted it was a "simple case."
However, the Comey situation has supposedly cast the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Virginia into disarray, according to sources. The prior U.S. attorney, Erik Siebert, relinquished his role due to demands from the Trump administration to levy criminal indictments versus Comey and New York Attorney General Letitia James. Trump indicated he dismissed Siebert.
James Comey appears in court for his arraignment, Oct. 8, 2025, in Alexandria, Virginia.Dana Verkourtere
Subsequently, Trump personally chose Halligan, a White House aide and his previous defense counsel, to succeed Siebert in leading the office. Halligan presented the Comey situation to the grand jury, despite prosecutors and investigators supposedly determining there wasn’t sufficient evidence to levy accusations, according to ABC News at the time.
Comey's attorneys communicated to the judge Wednesday they intend to file a motion contesting the legitimacy of Halligan's assignment, although that will be evaluated by a separate judge designated by the chief judge of the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.
The judge on Wednesday instructed the government to react to those motions by Nov. 3 and instructed the defense to react by Nov. 10. The judge voiced he wants the case to be thoroughly briefed by Nov. 19 and mentioned hearings will be planned for Nov. 19 and Dec. 9.
Verbal disputes are slated for Dec. 9 concerning the defense's motion to dismiss owing to grand jury misconduct, "outrageous government behavior" and other motions Comey's attorneys didn’t disclose.
The defense together with the judge both communicated a degree of uncertainty with respect to the government suggesting that a noteworthy volume of classified information will be encompassed within the situation.
At one point, Fitzgerald stated his belief that the government ought to have addressed the matter with classified information before progressing with the case. Seemingly, the "cart has been put before the horse," Fitzgerald observed.
The judge stated that no reason should exist for the case to divert from its course owing to classified information.
"We will undertake the quickest CIPA procedure you have ever encountered in your lifetime," he jested, regarding the judicial actions surrounding instances entailing classified information.
The judge further remarked, "I will not decelerate this instance" given the government's duties to release discovery to the defense.
Comey attended court Wednesday, marking his first appearance since being indicted the preceding month, accompanied inside the Alexandria, Virginia, court by Fitzgerald coupled with lawyer Jessica Carmichael.
Lindsey Halligan, attorney for Donald Trump, holds ceremonial proclamations to be signed by Donald Trump (not pictured) in the Oval Office of the White House, on March 6, 2025 in Washington, DC.Al Drago/Getty Images
Representing the government were Halligan and Nathaniel "Tyler" Lemons, a prosecutor hailing from the Eastern District of North Carolina. Leading up to Wednesday's arrangement, the Department of Justice incorporated two assistant U.S. attorneys from different states to contribute on the case.
Comey's spouse and his daughter, Maureen Comey, were spotted arriving at the Alexandria courthouse prior to the proceedings.
Comey has rebuffed any transgressions and expressed his anticipation for a trial.
ABC News' Alexandra Hutzler, Alexander Mallin, Peter Charalambous and Ely Brown were contributors to this report.
Sourse: abcnews.go.com
