Former FBI Director James Comey vowed to fight Donald Trump and his Justice Department in court on Wednesday as he was arraigned for the first time. Comey, 64, pleaded not guilty in the Albert V. Bryan United States Courthouse in Alexandria, Virginia to charges of making false statements and obstructing a congressional investigation. He also requested a jury trial at the arraignment and sought a speedy trial, and a judge set his trial date for January 5, 2026. Courtroom reporters said Comey appeared in good spirits despite the pressure of the charges he is facing, and was seen chatting with his attorneys and making jokes as they walked in. As the former intelligence chief arrived early Wednesday, his wife Patrice Failor appeared upset as she showed support outside the courthouse. Comey is facing charges brought by Trump's beauty queen turned US Attorney Lindsey Halligan, who has never prosecuted a case in court before. However, sources say that a central witness in Halligan's case is proving to be 'problematic' and will likely prevent them from establishing their case to a jury.Testimony from Daniel Richman, a law professor who prosecutors claim was authorized by Comey to leak information, would 'likely cause insurmountable problems,' ABC News reported. Former FBI Director James Comey vowed to fight Donald Trump and his Justice Department in court on Wednesday as he was arraigned for the first time Comey is facing charges brought by Donald Trump's beauty queen turned US Attorney Lindsey Halligan, who has never prosecuted a case in court beforePrior to the Wenesday arraignment, Comey shared a video to social media vowing to fight the charges against him, saying: 'My family and I have known for years that there are costs to standing up to Donald Trump. '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.'The dramatic arraignment unfolded at the same courthouse in Alexandria, Virginia where 9/11 plotter Zacarias Moussaoui and members of the ISIS terror cell known as the Beatles were previously tried. He is appearing before U.S. District Judge Michael Nachmanoff, who was nominated by President Joe Biden in 2021. The judge's recent cases included sentencing an MS-13 gang leader to life in jail for his role in six gruesome killings. It is an astonishing twist in the life of the man who was one of America's top law enforcement officers from 2013 until he was unceremoniously fired by President Donald Trump in 2017. As the former intelligence chief arrived early Wednesday, his wife Patrice Failor appeared upset as she showed support outside the courthouse President Trump has been lambasting Comey ever since firing him in 2017The decision to charge Comey, one of the president's most high-profile enemies, has ignited a political firestorm.Democrats have accused the president and Attorney General Pam Bondi of politicizing the Department of Justice to seek revenge against his opponents, which they have denied.Last week, an FBI agent was relieved of duty for declining to arrange a 'perp walk' of Comey in front of news cameras. The Department of Justice is also investigating other opponents of Trump, including New York Attorney General Letitia James and hos former national security adviser John Bolton. Outside the courthouse while Comey was arraigned, a small number of protesters demonstrated against the move from the DOJ, with some seen holding signs reading: 'Show trial.' Outside the courthouse while Comey was arraigned, a small number of protesters demonstrated against the move from the DOJ President Trump and James Comey in January 2017 before he was fired as FBI DirectorAccording to an indictment brought by Lindsey Halligan, the recently appointed U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, Comey faces two counts. The first is 'making false statements within the jurisdiction of the legislative branch of the United States Government.'It is alleged that on September 30, 2020 he 'willfully and knowingly made a materially false, fictitious, and fraudulent statement' while testifying to the Senate Judiciary Committee.The statement was that he had not 'authorized someone else at the FBI to be an anonymous source in news reports regarding an FBI investigation concerning PERSON 1.'Prosecutors allege that, contrary to that statement, he did authorize someone else to 'serve as an anonymous source in news reports.''PERSON 1' in the indictment is believed to be Hillary Clinton, with Comey's statement relating to an investigation into her private email server.In the second count, Comey is charged with obstruction of a Congressional proceeding.It is alleged he 'did corruptly endeavor to influence, obstruct and impede ' a Senate Judiciary Committee investigation by 'making false and misleading statements.'If convicted Comey faces up to five years in prison, although actual sentences for similar crimes are typically less than the maximum.When he was charged on September 25, Halligan said: 'The charges as alleged in this case represent a breach of the public trust at an extraordinary level. The indictment against him has been brought by Lindsey Halligan, the new U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia 'The balance of power is a bedrock principle of our democracy, and it relies upon accountability and a forthright presentation of facts from executive leadership to congressional oversight.'Any intent to avoid, evade, prevent, or obstruct compliance is a violation of professional responsibility and, most importantly, the law.'Trump fired Comey in 2017, early in his first term in office, and they have been engaged in a long-running feud ever since.The president blames Comey for having started an investigation into Russia’s meddling in the 2016 campaign that led to the appointment of special counsel Robert Mueller.Mueller spent two years investigating whether Trump’s campaign colluded with the Kremlin to help him win the White House.In the end, Mueller uncovered no evidence that Trump or his associates criminally colluded with RussiaTrump has long vented about the 'Russia hoax,' which overshadowed the start of his first term.However, the charges against Comey do not relate to the Russia investigation.According to Solomon Wisenberg, a former federal prosecutor, Comey appears to have made the statement pinpointed in the indictment in response to questioning from Senator Ted Cruz at the 2020 judiciary committee hearing.Cruz was pressing Comey over the role that his deputy director, Andy McCabe, played in authorizing a leak to The Wall Street Journal.The Wall Street Journal story examined how the FBI handled an investigation into Clinton’s use of a private email server when she was Secretary of State.The senator noted that Comey had told Congress in 2017 that he had not authorized anyone to speak to reporters.But Cruz then asserted that McCabe had 'publicly and repeatedly said he leaked information to The Wall Street Journal and that you (Comey) were directly aware of it and that you directly authorized it.'Comey responded: 'I stand by the testimony you summarized that I gave in May of 2017.'