Trump fires FBI Director Comey in controversial move

US President Donald Trump fired FBI Director James Comey on Tuesday, with a shocking statement from The White House saying Comey “has been terminated and removed from office”.

The President has said he fired the FBI Director due to his handling of the email scandal involving Hillary Clinton during the election, although most Democrats believe that he was fired due to his investigation into the alleged links between the Trump campaign and Russia during the election.

Democratic Senator Dick Durbin said that the firing of FBI Director Comey has raised questions “as to whether the Russian interference in the last presidential election… will also be investigated by the FBI.”

Trump has repeatedly insisted the Russia allegations are “fake news” and nothing to do with the firing of Comey.

The move has been compared to the “Saturday Night Massacre” of 1973, where President Richard Nixon fired the prosecutor investigating the Watergate scandal.

Republican senator John McCain has also expressed doubts over Trump’s latest move. He expressed “disappointement” in a statement calling Mr Comey a “man of honor and integrity”.

In a letter released by The White House for Comey it says: “It is essential that we find new leadership for the FBI that restores public trust and confidence in its vital law enforcement mission.”

Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein said he “cannot defend the director’s handling of the conclusion of the investigation of Secretary Clinton’s emails, and I do not understand his refusal to accept the nearly universal judgement that he was mistaken”

“Almost everyone agrees the director made serious mistakes; it is one of the few issues that unites people of diverse perspectives.”

The White House have said they would search for a new FBI Director immediately.

“It is essential we find new leadership…that restores public trust and confidence,” said Trump.