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Former FBI head James Comey has pleaded not guilty to making false statements to congressional representatives and obstructing a congressional proceeding.

The former director's attorney submitted the plea on his behalf in a US district court in Alexandria, Virginia on Wednesday morning.

His attorney announced he would seek to have the legal matter terminated for various causes including that his defendant, a critic of former President Trump, was being targeted.

James Comey was charged shortly after Donald Trump pushed his chief prosecutor to move forward against him.

Legal Proceedings

During the hearing on Wednesday, the defense counsel Mr Fitzgerald told the magistrate they intended to file various motions to terminate the proceedings before a trial, stating the government's case was retaliatory and that a government lawyer was wrongfully appointed to handle the case.

Mr Comey's proceedings was initially handled by a Virginia prosecutor, who stepped down under scrutiny from the former president after his probe into another political adversary - New York Attorney General Letitia James - did not succeed to initiate prosecution.

Legal Setting

Mr Comey appeared in good spirits as he entered the court on mid-week, conversing with his legal team and making jokes. He was joined by his wife, Patrice Failor and daughter his daughter, a US lawyer who the former government recently fired.

Following the reading to the judge read his legal protections and the pair of allegations against him in court on Wednesday, Mr Comey was asked if he grasped the allegations.

"I do your honour. Appreciate it," he told the proceedings.

Historical Information

James Comey was the FBI Director from 2013 to 2017 and was fired about four months into Donald Trump's first term as national leader. At the time, the director was overseeing an examination into foreign election meddling and whether there were any relationships between Moscow and the presidential campaign.

While in office, Mr Comey triggered a counter-response from Democrats when he stated just shortly prior to the 2016 election that he was examining political contender the candidate's use of a private email server. Charges against Clinton were not filed, resulting in negative feedback from conservative politicians as well.

Ongoing Accusations

Government attorneys claim the former director gave untrue statements to Congress during a congressional hearing in recent years when he was being examined about both the previous examination as well as the foreign influence inquiry. They say he provided false information to the legislative body by saying he had not authorized a person at the agency to leak to journalistic entities data about the FBI investigations.

Prosecutors also accuse the defendant of "corruptly endeavoring to sway, block and impede" the panel by giving misleading testimony to it.

Individual Responses

Through a recording the former director published to his Instagram after he was charged, he declared he was wrongly accused and charged Trump of behaving like a "autocrat".

"My family and I have known for a long time that there are consequences to standing up to Mr Trump," he said. "We refuse to live on our kneeling."

"I have done nothing wrong," he added. "So let's have a court case."

These allegations against the former director came after the former president posted on social media insisting on his chief prosecutor, the attorney general, charge Mr Comey and other people.