Ex-FBI director James Comey pleads not guilty to federal charges [gdj8F4xoBJO]
Former FBI Director James Comey pleaded not guilty in a Virginia courtroom on Wednesday, facing charges of making a false statement and obstructing a congressional proceeding. The arraignment was the next step in the case brought against him by the Justice Department, following President Donald Trump's demand for action against individuals he perceives as political enemies. The charges stem from allegations that Comey lied to Congress during his 2017 testimony about the investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election. The testimony was revisited in 2020, and the exchanges were at the center of what led to his indictment two weeks ago. Before the indictment, Trump posted on Truth Social a message to Attorney General Pam Bondi pressuring her to pursue charges against his perceived political enemies. "What about Comey, Adam “Shifty” Schiff, Leticia??? They’re all guilty as hell, but nothing is going to be done," read one of the lines in the post. Democrats and Comey supporters say the charges are a revenge attempt from Trump and he’s weaponizing the justice department to do it. “This is a very dangerous time for America where you have a President of the United States who doesn’t respect the rule of law and believes that the Justice Department isn’t an independent investigatory body, but is to do his bidding," Sen. Cory Booker, D-N.J., said Wednesday. In May of 2017, Comey was testifying before Congress about the investigation into Russian election interference during the 2016 election. "Have you ever authorized someone else at the FBI to be an anonymous source in news reports about the Trump investigation or the Clinton investigation?" asked Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, at the time. Comey replied "no," but former Comey deputy Andrew McCabe alleged in 2018 that he was authorized to leak to the media. In 2020, Comey was asked about it again. "So your testimony is you've never authorized anyone to leak, and Mr. McCabe, when he, if he says contrary, is not telling the truth. Is that correct? " asked Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, during the 2020 hearing. "I'm not going to characterize Andy's testimony, but mine is the same today," replied Comey. Comey's attorneys plan to seek dismissal of the case, arguing it is a vindictive and selective prosecution influenced by Trump's public demands for action. Attorney General Bondi had repeated, tense exchanges with Democrats on Capitol Hill this week when questioned about the charges. “Is it true that the career prosecutors in the Eastern District of Virginia found that there was insufficient evidence to bring criminal charges against former Director Comey?" asked Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn. "I am not going to discuss pending cases because Comey was indicted in the eastern district of Virginia by, I may point out, one of the most liberal grand juries in the country," Bondi replied. The trial is scheduled to begin on Jan. 5, depending on the outcome of the expected motions to dismiss. If convicted, Comey faces up to five years in prison.