By Gloria Nosa
Former FBI Director James Comey pleaded not guilty on Wednesday to two criminal charges, insisting that he is the target of a politically motivated prosecution orchestrated by former President Donald Trump.
Comey, who faces up to five years in prison if convicted of making false statements and obstructing a congressional proceeding, appeared in a Virginia courtroom with his attorney, Patrick Fitzgerald. The defense team announced plans to file multiple motions seeking dismissal of the case before it reaches trial, including one alleging “outrageous government conduct.”
“This prosecution was brought by President Trump,” Fitzgerald told the court, directly accusing the former president of using the Justice Department to pursue his longtime rival.
At the heart of the defense’s argument is that Comey is the victim of vindictive and selective prosecution. His legal team is challenging the appointment of Virginia prosecutor Lindsey Halligan, a former White House aide named interim U.S. Attorney just three days before she presented the case to a grand jury.
The indictment stems from Comey’s 2020 testimony before Congress, where he allegedly lied about authorizing a leak of classified information. Prosecutors claim he falsely denied giving permission for an associate, identified as “Person 3” — widely reported to be his friend, Columbia Law School professor Daniel Richman — to serve as an anonymous source for media reports.
Judge Michael Nachmanoff, who presided over Wednesday’s arraignment, stressed his intent to move the case quickly. “I’m not going to let things linger,” he said, setting oral arguments on pretrial motions for November and December, with a trial date of January 5. The proceedings are expected to last up to three days.
The case is steeped in political history. Trump fired Comey in 2017 amid the FBI’s probe into Russian interference in the 2016 election. More recently, the former president has publicly urged the Justice Department to target his perceived enemies, including Comey, writing in September, “JUSTICE MUST BE SERVED, NOW!!!”
Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche defended the indictment in a Fox News appearance, arguing that the case represents “the equal application of the law” and that Comey is being treated like any other defendant. Still, legal experts warn that Trump’s inflammatory comments could become a liability for prosecutors, as the defense is expected to argue that his influence tainted the fairness of the proceedings.
The Justice Department reportedly struggled for months to secure the indictment, with at least one interim U.S. Attorney resigning amid internal disputes over Trump’s pressure campaign.
As the case heads toward trial, Comey’s defense is positioning it as a defining test of whether America’s justice system can remain independent — or whether it is being weaponized in the nation’s deepening political battles.
