Former FBI chief pleads not guilty in case pushed by Trump

Former FBI director James Comey pleaded not guilty on Oct 8 to criminal charges, in a case his lawyer described as a vindictive prosecution directed by US President Donald Trump, whose first White House campaign was investigated by Comey.

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Throughout his political career, Mr Trump has threatened to jail his rivals, beginning with chants of “lock her up” during his successful 2016 run against Democrat Hillary Clinton.

Since returning to the White House, he has urged the Justice Department to take on perceived political enemies.

Comey is the first to be charged, but Mr Trump has also targeted New York state Attorney-General Letitia James, former national security adviser John Bolton, Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook, and, as of Oct 8, the Democratic governor of Illinois and Democratic mayor of Chicago.

Comey pleaded not guilty to charges of making false statements and obstructing a congressional investigation, which were brought by Mr Trump’s former personal attorney Lindsey Halligan, who was installed in September as a federal prosecutor.

Mr Trump forced out her predecessor over his reticence to prosecute Comey and Ms James.

Comey, 64, spoke briefly in court, indicating he understood his legal rights, while his family looked on from the gallery’s front row.

He made no other public statements on Oct 8, after responding to the charges in September with a defiant video on social media in which he said, “We will not live on our knees”.

Comey’s lawyer, Mr Patrick Fitzgerald, entered the plea on Comey’s behalf during a roughly 25-minute court hearing and indicated that he planned a barrage of legal challenges to the prosecution.

“Our view is that this prosecution was brought at the direction of President Trump,” Mr Fitzgerald said in court.