Former FBI Director James Comey pleaded not responsible on Wednesday throughout his federal court docket arraignment on expenses introduced following a public marketing campaign by US President Donald Trump to prosecute him.Comey, who was indicted final month by a federal grand jury within the Jap District of Virginia, faces two expenses: making false statements and obstruction of a congressional continuing. The indictment adopted Trump’s social media name urging lawyer common Pam Bondi to cost Comey, stating, “We will not delay any longer.”Throughout the temporary listening to, Comey’s lawyer, Pat Fitzgerald, waived the studying of the indictment and requested a jury trial. Comey himself spoke solely as soon as, affirming his understanding of his rights, saying, “I do your honor, thanks very a lot.” A trial date was set for January 5, with an anticipated length of two to a few days.Comey’s authorized crew plans to file motions difficult the fees as a vindictive and selective prosecution, and query the appointment of Lindsey Halligan, Trump’s former private lawyer, because the US lawyer for the Jap District of Virginia. Fitzgerald described Halligan’s appointment as “illegal” and indicated they’d additionally elevate problems with “grand jury abuse” and “outrageous authorities conduct.”The costs stem from allegations that Comey lied to Congress about authorizing a 3rd get together to anonymously leak info concerning an FBI investigation. Comey has persistently denied the allegations, telling the Senate in 2017 and once more in 2020, “I stand by the testimony.”The prosecution’s case was uncommon, with Halligan, who lacks prosecutorial expertise, presenting it alone to the grand jury after Trump pressured the earlier performing US lawyer to resign. Whereas Halligan sought three expenses, the grand jury discovered possible trigger for 2.Comey is because of seem earlier than US district decide Michael Nachmanoff, with further prosecutors Nathaniel Lemons and Gabriel J Diaz from a North Carolina US lawyer’s workplace aiding within the case.Comey’s daughter, a former federal prosecutor herself, was current in court docket to assist her father.This case is a part of a broader sample since Trump’s return to workplace, the place he has referred to as for expenses in opposition to a number of political opponents, together with New York lawyer common Letitia James and Senator Adam Schiff.A gaggle of former federal judges lately warned that the prosecution poses a “grave hazard” to Individuals’ rights, accusing Trump of “corruptly abusing the ability of his workplace by directing america division of justice and the federal bureau of investigation to focus on his critics and his perceived political enemies.”
