Comey pleads not guilty, will look to dismiss case for vindictive prosecution

Former FBI Director James Comey pleaded not responsible Wednesday to each counts in a federal indictment, and his attorneys stated they are going to search to have the case dismissed for vindictive and selective prosecution.

A federal grand jury indicted Comey on Sept. 25, simply days after President Donald Trump publicly demanded Lawyer Common Pam Bondi and the Justice Division act “now” towards Comey and different political opponents.

Comey is charged with one depend of false statements and one depend of obstruction of a congressional continuing, associated to his testimony earlier than the Senate Judiciary Committee in 2020.

The plea was entered by his lawyer Patrick Fitzgerald, who requested for a jury trial. 

The choose learn the costs and stated they carry a penalty of as much as 5 years in jail with a $250,000 effective.

He requested if Comey understood the costs, and he replied, “I do, Your Honor.”

A trial date was set for Jan. 5.

The choose requested how lengthy the federal government anticipated the trial lasting, and the federal government stated 2-3 days.

The choose stated that he was ready to maneuver ahead with a speedy trial. The federal government stated the case was “sophisticated,” however did not seem to object to the trial date in court docket.

“This does not seem like an advanced case,” the choose stated.

Fitzgerald agreed, saying, “We see this as a easy case.”

Comey has been a longtime goal of Trump’s criticism over his investigation into Russian interference within the 2016 election. Trump on Monday, chatting with reporters within the Oval Workplace, known as Comey a “soiled cop” and claimed it was a “easy case.”

However the Comey matter has thrown the U.S. Lawyer’s Workplace for the Japanese District of Virginia into turmoil, based on sources. The earlier U.S. lawyer, Erik Siebert, resigned over strain from the Trump administration to deliver felony costs towards Comey and New York Lawyer Common Letitia James. Trump stated he fired Siebert.

Trump then handpicked Halligan, a White Home aide and his former protection lawyer, to exchange Siebert and lead the workplace. Halligan offered the Comey case to the grand jury, regardless of prosecutors and investigators allegedly figuring out there was inadequate proof to cost him, ABC Information reported on the time.

Comey’s attorneys advised the choose Wednesday they plan to file a movement difficult the lawfulness of Halligan’s appointment, however that can be heard by a distinct choose appointed by the chief choose of 4th U.S. Circuit Courtroom of Appeals. 

The choose on Wednesday instructed the federal government to reply to these motions by Nov. 3 and directed the protection to reply by Nov. 10. The choose stated he desires the case to be totally briefed by Nov. 19 and stated hearings can be deliberate for Nov. 19 and Dec. 9. 

Oral arguments can be held Dec. 9 on the protection’s movement to dismiss due to grand jury abuse, “outrageous authorities conduct” and different motions Comey’s attorneys didn’t disclose.

Each the protection and the choose expressed some confusion as to why the federal government stated there can be a considerable quantity of labeled info concerned within the case.

At one level Fitzgerald stated that he believed the federal government ought to have found out the problem with labeled info earlier than bringing the case. It seems the “cart has been put earlier than the horse,” Fitzgerald stated. 

The choose stated there ought to be no motive the case will get off monitor due to labeled info.

“We’ll undergo the quickest CIPA course of you’ve ever seen in your life,” he joked, referring to the litigation that happens round circumstances involving labeled info. 

The choose additionally stated, “I can’t gradual this case down” over the federal government’s obligations to provide discovery to the protection. 

Comey was in court docket Wednesday for the primary time since he was indicted final month, the place he was joined contained in the Alexandria, Virginia, courtroom by Fitzgerald and attorneys David Kelley and Jessica Carmichael. 

The federal government was represented by Halligan and Nathaniel “Tyler” Lemons, a prosecutor from the Japanese District of North Carolina. Forward of Wednesday’s arraignment, the Division of Justice added two assistant U.S. attorneys from out of state to work on the case.

Comey’s spouse and his daughter, Maureen Comey, have been seen arriving on the Alexandria courthouse forward of the continuing.

Comey has denied any wrongdoing and has stated he seems to be ahead to a trial.

ABC Information’ Alexandra Hutzler, Alexander Mallin, Peter Charalambous and Ely Brown contributed to this report.