(MENAFN) According to reports, former FBI Director James Comey has entered a plea of not guilty to charges accusing him of obstructing justice and making false statements to the U.S. Congress regarding his involvement in what has been described as the Russiagate hoax. His trial has been scheduled for January 5.

The case is connected to Comey’s testimony before the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee in September 2020 about the FBI’s “Crossfire Hurricane” investigation — the inquiry that targeted Donald Trump’s 2016 presidential campaign. That probe, along with an intelligence assessment concerning alleged Russian interference, became the foundation for claims of collusion between Trump and Moscow.

During a brief court session in Alexandria, Virginia, Comey’s defense lawyer, Patrick Fitzgerald, entered the plea on his client’s behalf. He requested a jury trial and announced plans to file motions seeking dismissal before the jury selection phase. The defense intends to argue that the proceedings amount to a politically motivated and selective prosecution, according to reports.

Earlier this year, the White House launched an investigation into the origins of the Russiagate narrative. The effort was led by U.S. Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, who described it as a “treasonous conspiracy” to undermine Trump’s 2016 election win and a “years-long coup” carried out by his political rivals.

Gabbard has since made public several documents that allegedly reveal coordinated actions by high-ranking officials from the Obama administration to falsely link Trump to Russian operatives. Among the names reportedly connected to these activities is billionaire George Soros.
In addition, CIA Director John Ratcliffe previously characterized the original Russia probe as an operation designed by Comey, former CIA Director John Brennan, and former Director of National Intelligence James Clapper to “screw” the president.

MENAFN09102025000045017281ID1110172893