WEB DESK
In an unprecedented move US President Donald Trump has fired the FBI Director James Comey who was leading the investigation into whether his election campaign had ties to Russia’s and its interference in last year’s election.
In a letter, Trump communicated Comey that his services are terminated and he is removed from the office, effective immediately.
Trump said, Comey was no longer effectively able to lead the bureau and it was necessary to restore public trust and confidence in it.
The shock move comes days after Comey testified on Capitol Hill about the FBI’s investigation into Russia’s election meddling and a possible collusion between the country and Trump’s campaign. The White House said the search for a new FBI director would begin immediately.
Democrats said he was fired because the FBI was investigating alleged links between the Trump campaign and Russia. The move came as it emerged Mr Comey gave inaccurate information about Mrs Clinton’s emails to Congress last week.
Mr Comey was addressing FBI agents in Los Angeles when, according to Politico and the New York Times, he learned he had just been fired when he saw the news on television.
The 56-year-old – who was three and a half years into his 10-year term as FBI director – reportedly laughed, thinking it was a prank.
The White House said the search for a successor would begin immediately. It is only the second time for the head of the FBI to be fired.