Comey pleads not guilty to charges that he lied to Congress

ALEXANDRIA, Va. (AP) — James Comey pleaded not guilty Wednesday to allegations that he lied to Congress five years ago. The two-count indictment alleges that Comey misled the Senate Judiciary Committee on Sept. 30, 2020, when he was asked whether he had authorized any associate to serve as an anonymous source to the news media related to investigations of either President Donald Trump or 2016 Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton.

Lawyers for the former FBI director say they plan to argue the prosecution is politically motivated and should be dismissed.

Comey's not guilty plea kick-starts a process of legal wrangling that could culminate in a trial in a few months at the federal courthouse in Alexandria, Virginia, just outside of Washington. Defense lawyers said they intend to ask that the case be thrown out before trial on grounds that it constitutes a vindictive prosecution and plan to challenge the legitimacy of the appointment of the prosecutor who filed the charges just days after Trump hastily appointed her to her position.

Lindsey Halligan, a White House aide who had never previously served as a federal prosecutor but had been one of his personal lawyers, replaced the veteran attorney who had been overseeing the investigation.

Comey has denied any wrongdoing and has said he's looking forward to a trial, which the judge set for Jan. 5, though that date will be subject to change.

The two-count indictment charging him with making a false statement and obstructing a congressional proceeding does not identify the anonymous source or say what information may have been discussed with the media, making it challenging to assess the strength of the evidence or to even fully parse the allegations.

The judge randomly assigned to the case, Michael Nachmanoff, was nominated to the bench by President Joe Biden's Democratic administration and is a former chief federal defender. Known for methodical preparation and a cool temperament, the judge signaled in court Wednesday that he intended to push the case toward trial and would not permit unnecessary delays.