**Comey Pleads Not Guilty to Charges in Case Linked to Trump** Former FBI Director James Comey entered a not guilty plea on Wednesday to felony charges that many view as part of a broader campaign by former President Donald Trump against his political opponents. Comey, 64, was indicted by a grand jury last month on charges of making false statements to Congress and obstructing a congressional investigation. During his arraignment at a federal courthouse in Alexandria, Virginia, Comey’s attorney, Patrick Fitzgerald, submitted the plea before District Judge Michael Nachmanoff. The judge scheduled a trial date for January 5, 2026. The indictment against Comey stems from his testimony before the Senate Judiciary Committee in September 2020. He is accused of falsely claiming that he did not authorize another FBI employee to act as an anonymous source for news reports. If convicted, Comey could face up to five years in prison. A small group of protesters gathered outside the courthouse, with one individual holding a sign that read, "Show Trial." Comey was appointed as FBI director by President Barack Obama in 2013 and was dismissed by Trump in 2017 amid an investigation into potential collusion between the Trump campaign and Russia during the 2016 election. The charges against Comey were announced shortly after Trump publicly urged Attorney General Pam Bondi to take action against him and others he perceives as adversaries. This has raised concerns about the independence of the Justice Department from political influence. Trump, now 79, has faced multiple legal challenges since leaving office, including investigations into his handling of classified documents and efforts to overturn the 2020 election results. He has publicly criticized Comey, labeling him as "one of the worst human beings this country has ever been exposed to." The prosecution of Comey was initiated by Lindsey Halligan, a former personal attorney for Trump, who was appointed as U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia after the previous U.S. attorney resigned. Reports suggest that the former U.S. attorney stepped down due to a lack of evidence to support charges against Comey. Comey has maintained his innocence, stating, "My family and I have known for years that there are costs to standing up to Donald Trump." His daughter, Maurene Comey, was dismissed from her position as a federal prosecutor in Manhattan and has since filed a lawsuit against the Justice Department over her termination. The legal actions against Comey come amid a series of punitive measures taken by Trump against perceived enemies, including the removal of government officials and targeting law firms involved in cases against him. Historically, prosecutions for lying to Congress are rare, but they have occurred in notable cases, including those involving Trump associates Roger Stone and Michael Cohen. Comey’s situation echoes past high-profile indictments, such as that of former Defense Secretary Caspar Weinberger, who was indicted during the Iran-Contra scandal in 1992 and later pardoned by President George H.W. Bush. As the case unfolds, it highlights the ongoing tensions between Trump and his critics, as well as the implications for the Justice Department's role in politically charged investigations.