Former FBI Director James Comey appeared Wednesday in Alexandria federal court for his arraignment, where he entered a not guilty plea to charges of making false statements to Congress and obstructing a congressional proceeding.
The indictment stems from Comey’s 2020 Senate testimony, in which he denied authorizing anonymous leaks from the FBI during the Trump-Russia investigation. Prosecutors allege those denials were knowingly false.
Judge Michael S. Nachmanoff set preliminary hearing dates for November 19 and December 9, and scheduled the trial for January 5, 2026. Comey’s defense plans to file motions challenging the legitimacy of the charges and the appointment of the prosecutor.