Former FBI Director James Comey pleaded not guilty to charges of allegedly making false statements and obstruction of a congressional hearing during his first court appearance in Virginia on Wednesday.

The former FBI director appeared at 10 a.m. ET in the Albert V. Bryan United States Courthouse in Alexandria, Va. Comey’s wife, Patrice, and daughter, Maureen, were spotted waiting in line outside the courthouse Wednesday morning.

District Judge Michael S. Nachmanoff, an appointee of former President Joe Biden, presided over the hearing. Comey’s lawyer, Patrick Fitzgerald, told Nachmanoff that representing Comey «is the honor of my life» and that his team would be filing motions alleging a vindictive and retaliatory prosecution as well as outrageous government conduct.

Nachmanoff set oral argument dates for Nov. 19 and Dec. 9 and a jury trial to begin on Jan. 5, 2026. 

COMEY INDICTED FOR ALLEGED FALSE STATEMENTS, OBSTRUCTION OF CONGRESSIONAL PROCEEDING

The only time Comey spoke during the hearing was when the judge asked if he understood the charges against him.

«I do your honor,» Comey said. «Thank you very much.»

Comey was indicted in September by a federal grand jury on two counts: alleged false statements within jurisdiction of the legislative branch and obstruction of a congressional proceeding.

The indictment alleges that Comey obstructed a congressional investigation into the disclosure of sensitive information in violation of 18 USC 1505.

The indictment also alleges Comey made a false statement when he stated he did not authorize someone at the FBI to be an anonymous source. According to the indictment, that statement was false.

Fox News Digital exclusively reported in July that Comey was under criminal investigation by the FBI. The probe into Comey centered on whether he lied to Congress during his Sept. 30, 2020, testimony about his handling of the original Trump–Russia probe at the FBI, known inside the bureau as «Crossfire Hurricane.»

«No one is above the law,» Attorney General Pam Bondi said on X after the indictment, adding that it «reflects this Department of Justice’s commitment to holding those who abuse positions of power accountable for misleading the American people. We will follow the facts in this case.»

Former FBI Director James Comey is seen at a hearing on Capitol Hill in 2017. (Associated Press)

COMEY DENIES CHARGES, DECLARES ‘I AM NOT AFRAID’

FBI Director Kash Patel said «previous corrupt leadership and their enablers weaponized federal law enforcement, damaging once proud institutions and severely eroding public trust.»

«Every day, we continue the fight to earn that trust back, and under my leadership, this FBI will confront the problem head-on,» Patel said. «Nowhere was this politicization of law enforcement more blatant than during the Russiagate hoax, a disgraceful chapter in history we continue to investigate and expose.»

He added: «Everyone, especially those in positions of power, will be held to account – no matter their perch.»

Comey, after being indicted, posted an Instagram video, denying the allegations.

«My family and I have known for years that there are costs to standing up to Donald Trump, but we couldn’t imagine ourselves living any other way,» he said. «We will not live on our knees, and you shouldn’t either. Somebody that I love dearly recently said that fear is the tool of a tyrant, and she’s right.»

«But I’m not afraid,» Comey added.

«My heart is broken for the Department of Justice, but I have great confidence in the federal judicial system and I am innocent, so let’s have a trial and keep the faith,» Comey said.

Fox News Digital also exclusively reported that former CIA Director John Brennan is under criminal investigation related to the Trump–Russia probe. 

Under federal law, prosecutors have five years to bring a charge, with the five-year mark occurring Tuesday.

TRUMP SAYS COMEY ‘PLACED A CLOUD OVER THE ENTIRE NATION’ WITH CROSSFIRE HURRICANE, REACTS TO INDICTMENT

The case is being handled by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia.

The FBI opened its Trump-Russia probe in July 2016, known inside the bureau as «Crossfire Hurricane.» 

Robert Mueller, former special counsel for the U.S. Department of Justice.  (AP newsroom; Andrew Harrer/Bloomberg via Getty Images; Mike Cohen/Getty Images for The New York Times)

President Donald Trump, during his first term, fired Comey in May 2017. 

Days later, Robert Mueller was appointed special counsel to take over the FBI’s original «Crossfire Hurricane» investigation.

After nearly two years, former Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation, which concluded in March 2019, yielded no evidence of criminal conspiracy or coordination between the Trump campaign and Russian officials during the 2016 presidential election.

Shortly after, John Durham was appointed as special counsel to investigate the origins of the «Crossfire Hurricane» probe.

EXCLUSIVE: FBI LAUNCHES CRIMINAL INVESTIGATIONS OF JOHN BRENNAN, JAMES COMEY: DOJ SOURCES

Durham found that the FBI «failed to act» on a «clear warning sign» that the bureau was the «target» of a Clinton-led effort to «manipulate or influence the law enforcement process for political purposes» ahead of the 2016 presidential election.

Fox News Digital broke a series of stories related to Special Counsel John Durham’s findings.  (Julia Nikhinson/Reuters)

«The aforementioned facts reflect a rather startling and inexplicable failure to adequately consider and incorporate the Clinton Plan intelligence into the FBI’s investigative decision-making in the Crossfire Hurricane investigation,» Durham’s report states.

«Indeed, had the FBI opened the Crossfire Hurricane investigation as an assessment and, in turn, gathered and analyzed data in concert with the information from the Clinton Plan intelligence, it is likely that the information received would have been examined, at a minimum, with a more critical eye,» the report continued.

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Durham, in his report, said the FBI «failed to act on what should have been — when combined with other incontrovertible facts — a clear warning sign that the FBI might then be the target of an effort to manipulate or influence the law enforcement process for political purposes during the 2016 presidential election.»

Fox News’ Wyatt Dobrovich-Fago contributed to this report.

Israeli forces intercepted another flotilla attempting to break the country’s naval blockade and reach Gaza, the Israeli Foreign Ministry said, calling the effort a «futile attempt» that «ended in nothing.» The ministry also said that the vessels and passengers were transferred to an Israeli port and were safe and in good health. Passengers are expected to be deported promptly, according to the ministry.

The nine-boat fleet was carrying 145 activists participating in the Freedom Flotilla Coalition & Thousand Madleens to Gaza, The Associated Press reported, citing the Israeli Foreign Ministry. Flotilla organizers said in a statement that the fleet was carrying more than $110,000 worth of aid, including medicine, respiratory equipment and nutritional supplies meant for Gaza’s hospitals.

ISRAEL CLAIMS NO AID WAS FOUND ABOARD GAZA-BOUND FLOTILLA

David Heap, of the Canadian Boat to Gaza and Freedom Flotilla Coalition Steering Committee, asserted that «Israel has no legal authority to detain international volunteers aboard these ships.»

«Our volunteers are not subject to Israeli jurisdiction and cannot be criminalized for delivering aid or challenging an illegal blockade. Their detention is arbitrary, unlawful, and must end immediately,» Heap added.

This image obtained from live stream footage from Gaza Sunbird vessel, one of the nine boats taking part in the Freedom Flotilla Coalition & Thousand Madleens to Gaza, shows an Israeli soldier trying to reach the camera onboard Gaza Sunbird vessel, in the Eastern Mediterranean sea, on Wednesday, Oct. 8, 2025. (Freedom Flotilla Coalition via AP)

ISRAEL CLAIMS GRETA THUNBERG’S FLOTILLA SEEKING TO BREAK GAZA BLOCKADE HAS HAMAS TIES, CITES DOCUMENTS

This seizure comes just days after Israeli forces intercepted another aid flotilla and arrested the activists on board, including Greta Thunberg, an outspoken critic of Israel. Thunberg was also arrested while participating in a flotilla in June.

The Global Sumud Flotilla, which was intercepted on Oct. 2, became the subject of controversy when Israel said the fleet did not have any aid. Flotilla organizers insist that the claim was «not just verifiably false; it is obscene,» saying that the boats were «meticulously documented, loaded with medical supplies, food and other life-saving foods for people in Gaza.»

Israeli forces storm a Global Sumud Flotilla vessel on Oct. 2, 2025, as the boat attempted to sail toward Gaza. (Global Sumud Flotilla via AP)

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Thunberg was also aboard another Gaza-bound flotilla that was intercepted in June. The climate activist said she had been «kidnapped» by Israel, a comment that drew scrutiny from those who pointed out the plight of the hostages who have been held in Gaza since Oct. 7, 2023. 

The activist was later deported from Israel and allegedly told attorneys she could do «more good outside of Israel,» and that refusing to leave would «harm our cause,» The Times of Israel reported, citing a spokesperson for Adalah, a legal center for Arab minority rights in Israel. Adalah now represents GSF, a more recent attempt to reach Gaza.

In June, when asked about Thunberg’s claim that she had been «kidnapped» by Israel, President Donald Trump said, «I think Israel has enough problems without kidnapping Greta Thunberg.» The president called the climate activist a «strange person» and told reporters that she needed «anger management» courses.