Former FBI Director James Comey pleaded not guilty in federal court on Oct. 8 to charges of making a false statement and obstructing a congressional proceeding.
Comey, 64, dressed in a dark suit and red tie, sat quietly at the defense table throughout the proceeding. His attorney, Patrick Fitzgerald, requested a jury trial.
The trial date is tentatively set for Jan. 5, 2026, although Fitzgerald said he intends to argue that the case is politically motivated and seek a dismissal.
The federal government was represented by Lindsey Halligan, U.S. attorney for the district of Eastern Virginia, who brought the indictment, accompanied by Gabriel Diaz and Nathaniel Lemons.
On arrival, Comey bypassed the public entrance to the Albert V. Bryan U.S. Courthouse, where a handful of protesters carried signs denouncing the charges as a weaponization of government.
Comey appeared before Judge Michael Nachmanoff, of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, a former public defender who was appointed by President Joe Biden in 2021. Nachmanoff was randomly assigned to the case.
Before releasing Comey on personal recognizance, Nachmanoff instructed attorneys for both sides to agree on a discovery schedule by Oct. 10 or else submit their proposed schedules by Oct. 13.
The judge instructed the Department of Justice to provide security clearances as necessary if any evidence in the trial is classified.
Initially, Comey was set to be arraigned on Oct. 9, but the hearing in Alexandria, Va., was moved to the morning of Oct. 8. Both charges stem from Comey’s Sept. 30, 2020, testimony to the Senate Judiciary Committee. (Read more: Epoch Times, 10/8/2025) (Archive)
James Comey strutted into court for his arraignment, not in handcuffs, proclaim his innocence before a Biden appointed judge, where the jury pool is 95% Democrat. What a charade. He should have been charged with treason. https://t.co/fve5yuJNMr
— Mike Engleman🇺🇲 (@RealHickory) October 8, 2025