Former FBI Director James Comey has pleaded not guilty to the two counts against him — making a false statement to Congress and obstruction of a congressional proceeding — from President Donald Trump’s Justice Department on Wednesday in a federal courtroom in Alexandria, Virginia.
Comey waved his right to hear the indictment read to him, and asked for a jury trial, MSNBC’s Ken Dilanian reported.
His plea comes several weeks after he was indicted by a grand jury in the Eastern District of Virginia.
Fox News reported the judge presiding over the course is District Judge Michael S. Nachmanoff, who was appointed by former President Joe Biden. The outlet also reported Comey’s wife, Patrice, and his daughter Maureen were seen waiting to enter the courtroom shortly before 10:00 a.m. ET, when his hearing was set to start.
Comey is being represented by attorney Pat Fitzgerald.
The judge set a trial date for Jan. 5, 2026.
Fitzgerald, The New York Times reported, said he intended to file motions to dismiss the case, including one motion that called it a “malicious and selective prosecution,” based on President Trump calling for Comey to be prosecuted before the indictment.
The case against Comey is focused on if he lied to Congress in Sept. 2020 about his handling of the investigation into whether President Trump or members of his campaign colluded with Russia during the 2016 presidential election. That investigation was dubbed “Crossfire Hurricane” by the FBI and started in mid-2016. The indictment against Comey alleged he falsely stated he did not authorize an FBI agent to be an anonymous source to news outlets.
President Trump fired Comey in May 2017. Soon after, Robert Mueller was appointed special counsel and took over the investigation. Mueller, in 2019, completed his probe and found no evidence of criminal conspiracy or coordination between Trump and Russia.
Trump, earlier this year, called the investigation a “disgrace” and a “total weaponization” of the FBI.
Comey was indicted on Sept. 25 — less than a week after the president urged Attorney General Pam Bondi to take “action” against Comey and other political enemies, including Sen. Adam Schiff (D-CA) and New York AG Letitia James.
Recently-appointed U.S. Attorney Lindsey Halligan, who previously served as a personal attorney to the president, secured the indictment against Comey.
President Trump celebrated the indictment on Truth Social and blasted Comey as “One of the worst human beings” in U.S. history.
“He has been so bad for our Country, for so long, and is now at the beginning of being held responsible for his crimes against our Nation,” the president said on Sept. 25.
The post JUST IN: Comey Pleads Not Guilty to Lying to Congress first appeared on Mediaite.
