Former FBI official Charles McGonigal pleaded not guilty in court today to charges that he received money from a former employee of the Albanian intelligence services and to non-reporting of contacts and connections with officials of other countries.

In a session of the Washington court that lasted less than 15 minutes and where the defendant McGonigal participated virtually, it was agreed that he should be tried in a free state after being released on a $500,000 dollar bail, writes the Voice of America.

The next session will be held at a later date, as today’s session focused mainly on the technical details of the process.

On Monday, he denied further charges brought against him in New York that he violated US sanctions on Russia by working for Russian oligarch Oleg Deripaska.

The court decided to release him against payment, while the judicial process will still take place.