Overview

• He appeared Wednesday in U.S. District Court in Alexandria, Virginia, for his formal indictment proceeding and entered a not-guilty plea.
• Prosecutors charge that he obstructed a congressional committee and lied to Congress when denying he approved an anonymous media citation for his deputy.
• The case was brought by U.S. attorney Lindsey Halligan after President Trump pressured the Justice Department and replaced the prior Eastern District of Virginia prosecutor.
• Trump publicly celebrated the indictment on Truth Social, while Comey said he is not afraid, insists he is innocent, and voiced confidence in the federal justice system.
• The proceedings unfold against the backdrop of Comey’s 2017 firing during the Russia inquiry and the 2019 Mueller report that found no collusion but documented presidential pressure.