Former FBI director Comey pleads not guilty to federal charges
Former FBI Director James Comey pleaded not guilty on Wednesday to charges of making false statements to Congress and obstructing a congressional proceeding. The charges stem from his 2020 testimony about the FBI's Russia investigation. A federal judge in Virginia set his trial for January 5, 2026, and released him without conditions.
James Comey, the former FBI director and a longtime critic of President Trump, appeared for arraignment in federal court in Alexandria, Virginia, on Wednesday. He entered a not guilty plea through his lawyer, Patrick Fitzgerald, to two counts: false statements and obstruction of a congressional proceeding. These charges arise from Comey's September 2020 testimony before the Senate Judiciary Committee regarding his handling of the FBI's probe into Russian interference in the 2016 election.
The indictment, secured last month by the Justice Department, was filed just days before the statute of limitations expired on September 30. It alleges that Comey falsely told a senator he had not authorized an FBI colleague to serve as an anonymous source in news reports about an investigation into an individual identified as 'Person 1.' Prosecutors, led by U.S. Attorney Lindsey Halligan—a former White House aide and personal attorney to Trump—expect the trial to last two to three days.
Judge Michael Nachmanoff scheduled the trial for January 5, 2026, after both sides requested additional preparation time. 'This does not appear to me to be an overly complicated case,' the judge said, according to reports. 'I’m not going to force you to go to trial in December if both sides don’t feel they can be ready.' Comey was released without conditions, with his family present at the hearing.
Fitzgerald described the representation as 'the honor of my life.' Comey's defense team plans to file motions to dismiss, arguing vindictive or selective prosecution, Halligan's unlawful appointment, outrageous government conduct, and issues with the grand jury process. Halligan replaced prosecutor Erik Siebert, who had questioned the evidence's strength, shortly after Trump urged faster action in the investigation.
The case traces back to Trump's criticism of Comey for the appointment of a special counsel who investigated Russia-Trump campaign contacts during Trump's first term. Attorney General Pam Bondi stated after the indictment: 'No one is above the law. Today’s indictment reflects this Department of Justice’s commitment to holding those who abuse positions of power accountable for misleading the American people. We will follow the facts in this case.'