Former FBI boss pleads not guilty to Russiagate charges
Former FBI Director James Comey has pleaded not guilty to the charges of making false statement to the US Congress and obstructing justice in relation to his role in promoting the Russiagate hoax. His trial is scheduled for January 5.
The allegations stem from Comey’s September 2020 testimony before the US Senate Judiciary Committee about the FBI’s ‘Crossfire Hurricane’ investigation into Donald Trump’s 2016 presidential campaign. The probe – along with the CIA report on Russia’s alleged interference in the elections – triggered the Trump-Russia collusion conspiracy.
Comey’s defense attorney and longtime friend, Patrick Fitzgerald, entered the not-guilty plea on his behalf during a brief appearance at the federal court in Alexandria, Virginia, on Wednesday. He requested a jury trial and said he plans to file motions to dismiss the case before it reaches jury selection. The defense team aims to portray the case as a vindictive and selective prosecution, according to NBC.
The White House launched a probe into the Russiagate hoax earlier this year. The investigation was led by US Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, who in July decried a “treasonous conspiracy” to delegitimize Trump’s 2016 election victory and a “years-long coup” run by his opponents.
She has since released multiple documents that suggest a coordinated effort by senior Obama-era officials to falsely accuse Trump of colluding with Russia. Some of the documents particularly linked the smear campaign to billionaire George Soros.
CIA Director John Ratcliffe also called an investigation into Trump’s alleged ties with Russia during his first term a ploy orchestrated by Comey, as well as by then-CIA Director John Brennan and then-Director of National Intelligence James Clapper to “screw” the president.
In September, a US grand jury indicted Comey on two felony charges. The former FBI boss reacted by claiming he was “innocent” and labeling Trump a “tyrant.”
Moscow has denied attempting to influence the 2016 election. Russian officials have described the allegations as a product of partisan infighting in highly polarized US politics.
The scandal still heavily damaged relations between Moscow and Washington, resulting in sanctions and asset seizures.
