Former FBI director James Comey on Wednesday pleaded not guilty to US Department of Justice charges accusing him of lying during a congressional hearing.

The indictment concerns statements that Comey made in 2020. Comey told Congress in 2017 that he did not authorize leaks related to various investigations of the first Trump administration and other matters. At the hearing in question, on September 30, 2020, he defended his position, stating: “I can only speak to my testimony. I stand by the testimony you summarized that I gave in May of 2017.”

In a recent video posted to Instagram, Comey maintained his innocence:

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. We will not live on our knees, and you shouldn’t either… Fear is the tool of a tyrant, but I’m not afraid, and I hope you’re not either… My heart is broken for the Department of Justice, but I have great confidence in the federal judicial system, and I’m innocent, so let’s have a trial.

Comey, the primary individual responsible for investigating Trump’s campaign-links to Russia, was indicted in September. Charges against him came days after Trump urged Attorney General Pam Bondi on social media to pursue legal action against him and other political rivals:

Pam: I have reviewed over 30 statements and posts saying that, essentially, “same old story as last time, all talk, no action. Nothing is being done. What about Comey, Adam “Shifty” Schiff, Leticia [James]??? They’re all guilty as hell, but nothing is going to be done”…  JUSTICE MUST BE SERVED, NOW!!!

Comey had served in the Justice Department since the George W. Bush administration, and was fired as FBI director by Trump in 2017. Trump has continued to target Comey since he helped spark Robert Mueller’s investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election.

Trial has been set for January 5. Comey’s team has said it plans on filing motions to challenge the case as a vindictive and selective prosecution as well as the appointment of Lindsey Halligan, Trump’s former personal attorney, as US attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, where the case was brought.