James Comey Pleads Not Guilty to Charges of Lying to Congress

ALEXANDRIA, Virginia — Former FBI Director James Comey pleaded not guilty on Wednesday to charges of making false statements to Congress and obstructing a congressional proceeding. The plea was made in U.S. District Court during a hearing where Judge Michael Nachmanoff set a trial date for January 5, 2026.

Comey’s attorney, Patrick Fitzgerald, announced intentions to seek a dismissal of the case, claiming it was driven by vindictive and selective prosecution motivated by political pressures. The indictment was issued by a federal grand jury on September 25, shortly after President Donald Trump publicly urged Attorney General Pam Bondi to take action against Comey.

The two charges against Comey stem from his testimony before the Senate Judiciary Committee in September 2020. He faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000 if convicted. When asked by the judge if he understood the charges, Comey replied, “I do, Your Honor.”

A trial is expected to last two to three days. Defense attorneys plan to file several motions before the trial, including a challenge to the appointment of Lindsey Halligan, the interim U.S. attorney who brought the case against Comey. Fitzgerald expressed concerns about the timing and validity of Halligan’s appointment.

During the hearing, Judge Nachmanoff expressed his commitment to moving forward with the case, stating, “I will not slow this case down because the government does not promptly turn over information.” Fitzgerald cautioned that the prosecution has indicated there would be classified information involved, complicating the process, but indicated confidence in the case’s simplicity.

Comey attended the hearing accompanied by his wife, Patrice Failor, and daughter, Maureen Comey. He has consistently denied any wrongdoing and expressed eagerness for the case to go to trial. In a statement after his indictment, Comey characterized Trump as a “tyrant” and asserted, “We will not live on our knees.”

Trump, who fired Comey in 2017 during an investigation into Russian election interference, recently labeled him a “dirty cop,” while stressing that he believed the investigation was straightforward.

Legal analysts have noted the unusual circumstances surrounding the indictment and the potential political implications, given Trump’s ongoing scrutiny of Comey’s role in past investigations. As the case proceeds, Chief Judge of the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has appointed another judge to oversee the challenges regarding the case’s preliminary motions.