ALEXANDRIA, Va. — Former FBI Director James B. Comey pleaded not guilty on Wednesday to federal charges of making false statements and obstructing a congressional proceeding, formally kicking off a high-stakes legal battle that critics have condemned as a politically motivated campaign of retribution directed by the White House.
Comey, a longtime target of President Donald Trump, appeared in federal court in Alexandria, Virginia, for his arraignment on the two-count indictment. The charges stem from sworn testimony he gave to the Senate Judiciary Committee in September 2020, where he denied authorizing an associate to act as an anonymous source to the news media regarding FBI investigations.
The Charges and The Politics
The case against the former FBI chief is seen as the most significant prosecution yet in the Trump administration’s explicit drive to punish its perceived political enemies, a move that has deeply alarmed legal and political observers concerned about the independence of the Justice Department.
- The Indictment: The two felony counts accuse Comey of making a false statement and obstructing a congressional proceeding. The core allegation is that he falsely denied authorizing a third party to leak information to the media about the FBI’s 2016 investigations, which included the probe into Hillary Clinton’s foundation.
- A “Weaponized” DOJ: The indictment followed an extraordinary chain of events, including President Trump publicly urging the Attorney General to “move now” to prosecute Comey and the subsequent resignation of the previous U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, who reportedly declined to bring charges due to insufficient evidence. Trump then appointed Lindsey Halligan, his former personal attorney, who secured the indictment just days after taking the post.
A Defense of “Selective Prosecution”
Comey’s defense attorney, former U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald, entered the not guilty plea and immediately signaled the defense strategy, telling the court they would seek to dismiss the case on the grounds of “vindictive and selective prosecution” and challenging the legality of Halligan’s appointment.
Comey himself, who was famously fired by President Trump in 2017, has remained defiant. Following his indictment last month, he released a video message stating, “My heart is broken for the Department of Justice, but I have great confidence in the federal judicial system, and I’m innocent. So let’s have a trial.“
U.S. District Judge Michael S. Nachmanoff, an appointee of President Joe Biden, has tentatively set a trial date for January 5, 2026. The judge’s assignment immediately drew criticism from President Trump, who derided him as a “Crooked Joe Biden appointed Judge,” highlighting the intense political backdrop of the proceedings.
The prosecution of a former top law enforcement official like Comey on charges related to congressional testimony is rare and marks a profound escalation in the years-long feud between the President and his most high-profile critics.