Former FBI director pleads not guilty to criminal charges

James Comey entered a not guilty plea on Wednesday to federal charges of lying to Congress and obstructing a congressional proceeding. Federal prosecutors charged Comey late last month with lying to Congress about the FBI’s investigation into Russia’s influence on the 2016 election. A bipartisan Senate panel that met for three years concluded in 2020 that Russia did interfere in the 2016 election.

What lies is Comey accused of telling? He testified before the Senate Judiciary Committee in 2017 and insisted that he did not authorize an anonymous news leak about the bureau's investigations into Russian election interference and Hilary Clinton. But former Comey deputy Andrew McCabe claimed that a leak was authorized days before the election. In a separate 2020 testimony before the same committee, Comey insisted his original testimony was true despite being pressed about conflicting accounts.

The indictment insisted that Comey allowed an unidentified third person to serve as an anonymous news source and knowingly lied to Congress during both testimonies.

How has Comey responded? WORLD reached out to Comey’s attorneys for comment but did not receive an immediate response. Comey released an initial video statement responding to the indictment hours after its filing. He insisted on his innocence and called for a trial, reiterating his confidence in the federal judicial system. Standing up to President Donald Trump comes with a price, but the American people should not live on their knees, Comey said. He encouraged people to stay engaged with politics and vote in the coming elections. 

Dig deeper: Read Carolina Lumetta’s report for more about Comey’s indictment.