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Comey
Pleads
Not
Guilty
to False
Statement
Charges,
Trial
Set for
January
Derick
Adams -
Crime/Law
Tell Us
USA News
Network
ALEXANDRIA,
VIRGINIA
— Former
FBI
Director
James
Comey
pleaded
not
guilty
Wednesday
to
charges
of
providing
false
statements
and
obstructing
a
congressional
proceeding,
with a
trial
date set
for
January
5. The
arraignment
took
place at
the
Albert
V. Bryan
United
States
Courthouse,
where
the
hearing
was
rescheduled
due to
expected
large
crowds.
During
the
brief
proceedings,
Comey's
high-profile
defense
attorney,
Pat
Fitzgerald
— a
former
U.S.
Attorney
and
longtime
friend
of Comey
— waived
a
reading
of the
indictment
and
formally
requested
a jury
trial.
Both
sides
indicated
they
expect
the
trial to
last
approximately
2-3
days.
Comey
spoke
only
once
during
the
hearing
to
confirm
he
understood
his
constitutional
rights,
including
the
right to
remain
silent
and the
right to
legal
counsel.
Fitzgerald
announced
plans to
file
multiple
pretrial
motions
challenging
the
prosecution's
case on
several
grounds.
These
will
include
arguments
that the
charges
represent
vindictive
and
selective
prosecution,
as well
as a
challenge
to the
appointment
of
Lindsey
Halligan,
President
Trump's
former
personal
attorney,
as U.S.
Attorney
for the
Eastern
District
of
Virginia
— a move
Fitzgerald
characterized
as
"unlawful."
The
defense
team
also
plans to
file
motions
alleging
"grand
jury
abuse"
and
"outrageous
government
conduct."
The
indictment,
announced
September
25 by a
federal
grand
jury,
charges
Comey
with
serious
crimes
related
to the
disclosure
of
sensitive
information.
Both
charges
are
connected
to his
September
30,
2020,
testimony
to the
Senate
Judiciary
Committee.
The
government
alleges
that
Comey
lied to
Congress
about
authorizing
a third
party to
speak
anonymously
to the
media
about an
FBI
investigation.
The
indictment
came
amid
significant
controversy.
Comey
was
indicted
just
days
after
President
Trump
issued a
public
demand
for the
DOJ to
act
"now" to
prosecute
him,
raising
concerns
about
political
interference
in the
justice
system.
The case
has
roiled
the
Justice
Department
and
prompted
alarm
about
its
independence
from
White
House
interference.
The
circumstances
surrounding
the
indictment
itself
have
raised
eyebrows
in legal
circles.
A
magistrate
judge
expressed
confusion
and
surprise
at some
points
during a
Thursday
night
court
session
when the
federal
grand
jury
returned
James
Comey's
indictment.
A court
record
confirmed
that the
grand
jury
voted
"no" on
indicting
Comey on
a second
alleged
false
statement
to
Congress
— a very
unusual
occurrence
in the
federal
court
system.
The case
has
taken a
personal
toll on
the
Comey
family.
His
daughter,
a former
federal
prosecutor
who was
fired by
the
Justice
Department
in July,
attended
Wednesday's
hearing
in
support
of her
father.
Additionally,
an FBI
agent
was
fired
after
they
refused
to
participate
in
Comey's
surrender
during
discussions
ahead of
the
initial
indictment.
If
convicted,
Comey
could
face a
maximum
of five
years in
prison.
However,
the case
faces
significant
legal
hurdles
before
reaching
trial.
The
defense's
anticipated
motions
challenging
prosecutorial
misconduct
and the
legitimacy
of the
U.S.
Attorney's
appointment
could
potentially
derail
the case
before
it ever
reaches
a jury.
The
January
5, 2026
trial
date
ensures
this
case
will
continue
to
generate
headlines
well
into the
new
year,
keeping
questions
about
Justice
Department
independence
and
politically
motivated
prosecutions
at the
forefront
of
national
discourse.
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