Media playback is unsupported on your device Media caption Comey explains why he went public reopening Clinton email probe

Mr Comey has been criticised by Democrats for the handling of his investigation into whether Mrs Clinton's use of a private email server when secretary of state compromised national security. Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), the number two Democrat in the Senate, said that any attempt to quash the FBI investigation of Trump’s ties to Russia would “raise grave Constitutional issues” and called for the formation of a special commission or the appointment of a special counsel to investigate the Kremlin’s electoral inference and any links to the Trump campaign. “It is essential that we find new leadership for the FBI that restores public trust and confidence in its vital law enforcement mission.”

The dismissal of America’s top law enforcement official came days after he testified on Capitol Hill about Clinton’s use of a private email server as secretary of state and the FBI’s investigation into Russian election interference. You can read Trump's letter to Comey below:

White House Statement on James Comey by Katie Reilly on Scribd

Comey's firing came not long after the FBI told the Senate Judiciary committee that Comey had misspoken during his testimony about Hillary Clinton aide Huma Abedin forwarding thousands of emails to her husband, former Congressman Anthony Weiner. Comey has come under intense scrutiny in recent months for his public comments on an investigation into Democrat Hillary Clinton’s email practices, including a pair of letters he sent to Congress on the matter in the closing days of last year’s campaign. White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer told reporters on Tuesday evening that Comey was “notified a short time ago” and that his firing was effective “immediately.”

The announcement of Comey’s firing caught Washington by surprise, and the White House appears to have kept senior lawmakers in the dark about the decision, including at least one member of the so-called Gang of Eight, the senior-most congressional officials and the heads of the House and Senate intelligence committees. The short statement says “Today, President Donald J. Trump informed FBI Director James Comey that he has been terminated and removed from office.”

The statement says Trump “made the decision based on the clear recommendations of Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein and Attorney General Jeff Sessions.” It also reads “Today will mark a new day for our crown jewel of law enforcement.”

No further details are available at this time; this is a developing story. President Trump acted based on the clear recommendations of both Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein and Attorney General Jeff Sessions.”

The statement quoted Trump as saying: “The FBI is one of our Nation’s most cherished and respected institutions and today will mark a new beginning for our crown jewel of law enforcement.”

Comey’s dismissal raises questions over the future of the FBI’s investigation into alleged ties between Trump associates and Russia during the presidential election, which US intelligence agencies believe Russia sought to influence in favour of Trump.
U.S. President Donald Trump removes James Comey as Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, with Andrew G. McCabe stepping in as acting director.