Former FBI director James Comey asked a federal court on Monday to throw out his felony charges on the grounds they were motivated by the "personal spite" of US President Donald Trump.

Comey, 64, a prominent Trump critic, said the case against him is a "vindictive and selective prosecution" and should be dismissed.

Comey pleaded not guilty this month to charges of making false statements to Congress and obstructing a congressional proceeding.

He was the first of three outspoken critics of the Republican president to be indicted in recent weeks in what is widely seen as a campaign of retribution against Trump's political opponents.

New York Attorney General Letitia James, who successfully prosecuted Trump, was indicted this month on one count of bank fraud and a second count of making f

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