Former FBI Director James Comey, who was indicted by a grand jury on charges of threatening President Donald Trump on Tuesday, voluntarily appeared at the Alexandria federal courthouse in Virginia on Wednesday afternoon.

After a brief procedural hearing that lasted about five minutes, Comey did not make any direct statements in court or enter a plea (guilty or not guilty) to the charges.

Magistrate Judge William E. Fitzpatrick denied the Justice Department's request to impose release conditions and ordered Comey to be released on his own recognizance, without bail. However, the condition requiring him to remove firearms from his residence was maintained.

The formal arraignment will be held later in the federal court in North Carolina, where the case was formally filed.

Comey's attorney, Patrick Fitzgerald, stated that they would vigorously contest the indictment in court, arguing that it is a retaliatory prosecution based on political revenge.

Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche said that Comey could face up to 20 years in prison if convicted on the two federal charges.

Comey was charged with threatening the President and transmitting threats via interstate commerce, in connection with him arranging seashells on a North Carolina beach to spell out the message "8647."

This message was largely interpreted as a call to eliminate U.S. President Donald Trump, and Comey also posted a photo of the seashells online.

'86' (Eighty-six) is used in the military and intelligence agencies to mean "to eliminate" or "to kill," and '47' is said to symbolize President Trump as the 47th president.

Meanwhile, in an interview with "CBS Mornings," Blanche dismissed claims that the Justice Department's indictment of Comey was politically motivated, emphasizing that the indictment was the result of a lengthy investigation and a grand jury's decision, not at the direction of the White House.

He stated that the indictment was the outcome of nearly a year-long investigation by federal authorities, including the FBI and the Secret Service.

He also underscored the seriousness of threats against a sitting president, countering attempts to downplay the case.

Blanche said, "If somebody in this country, especially given what has happened with President Trump over the last few years, thinks it's okay to threaten the President of the United States, and the media or other people say, 'That's not a big deal,' then we have a problem that is far more serious than I ever imagined."

NNP=Hong Sung-goo Chief Reporter, USA / Special Dispatch NNP info@newsandpost.com