Ex-FBI director James Comey pleads not guilty to criminal charges

James Comey, the former Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), has pleaded not guilty to criminal accusations alleging that he lied to Congress and obstructed a congressional investigation.

Comey appeared in a federal court in Alexandria, Virginia, on Wednesday, where he firmly denied any wrongdoing, according to reports by Fox News.

The trial has been scheduled to begin on January 5, 2026. Observers, including analysts and major US media outlets, have suggested that the charges against Comey may be politically motivated and lacking merit, sparking debate over the case’s legitimacy.

They suggest former President Donald Trump merely wanted Comey “punished,” and predict that the case will likely collapse during trial.

Comey, seeking a swift resolution, requested an expedited trial and got his wish.

The case against Comey has drawn sharp political and legal reactions, as it marks the first prosecution of a senior official linked to former President Donald Trump’s long-standing political grievances.

The charges were filed by Lindsey Halligan, Trump’s former personal attorney, who was recently appointed as the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia after her predecessor was removed for declining to bring charges.

According to the indictment, Comey is accused of making a false statement during a 2020 hearing when he told a Republican senator that he stood behind his previous testimony claiming he did not authorise anyone at the FBI to serve as an anonymous source in media reports about ongoing investigations.

It also alleges he attempted to “influence, obstruct and impede” a Senate inquiry.

While the document does not name the specific investigation, it is believed to relate to the FBI’s probe involving Democrat Hillary Clinton, Trump’s 2016 presidential rival. The indictment was filed just days after Trump publicly called on Attorney General Pam Bondi to prosecute Comey and other perceived political opponents.

Trump hailed the indictment as “JUSTICE FOR AMERICA!” while Bondi said, “No one is above the law.” The FBI Director, Kash Patel, also voiced support for the prosecution, calling it “a step toward accountability.”

In a video message following the charges, Comey said, “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.”

Career prosecutors in Virginia reportedly advised Halligan not to seek the indictment due to insufficient evidence, before two prosecutors from North Carolina were assigned to handle the case.

This is the first time Trump’s administration has successfully secured an indictment against one of his political rivals, intensifying fears over the erosion of judicial independence in Washington.

More than 1,000 former Justice Department officials from both Republican and Democratic backgrounds have condemned the move as “an unprecedented assault on the rule of law.”

Comey, appointed by Barack Obama in 2013, was dismissed by Trump in 2017 while leading the FBI’s investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election.

His firing led to the appointment of Special Counsel Robert Mueller, whose probe later concluded there was insufficient evidence to establish a criminal conspiracy between Trump’s campaign and Moscow.