John McCain calls for 'urgent' independent probe into firing of FBI director James Comey

Republican senator calls dismissal 'disappointing'

John McCain described James Comey as a "man of honour and integrity" (EPA)

Senator John McCain said he was “disappointed” with President Donald Trump’s decision to fire FBI director James Comey.

The Republican and former nominee in the 2008 US election said the move reinforced calls for a special congressional panel to investigate alleged links between Mr Trump’s team and Moscow.

In a statement, Mr McCain described Mr Comey as “a man of honour and integrity” and praised his work at the head of the FBI.

He said: “While the President has the legal authority to remove the Director of the FBI, I am disappointed in the President's decision to remove James Comey from office.

“James Comey is a man of honour and integrity, and he has led the FBI well in extraordinary circumstances.”

Mr Comey’s dismissal comes amidst an ongoing FBI investigation into allegations Moscow interfered in the 2016 US election and accusations Mr Trump’s team worked with Russian officials before the inauguration.

If Democrats were quick to point out Mr Trump's decision created a constitutional crisis as he removed the man in charge of investigating him, it also sparked concerns among the president’s own Republican camp.

In a memo announcing Mr Comey's removal, the White House said the former FBI director violated the public's trust last year when he publicly announced that his bureau was not recommending pressing charges against former Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton for the use of a private email server as Secretary of State.

But Democratic senator Bernie Sanders said Mr Comey's sudden firing raised serious questions about what the Trump administration was trying to hide.

Mr McCain said the dismissal emphasised the urgency of an independent probe to be set-up to continue the work of the FBI.

“I have long called for a special congressional committee to investigate Russia's interference in the 2016 election. The president's decision to remove the FBI Director only confirms the need and the urgency of such a committee,” he said.

In a statement, President Trump said the search for a new FBI director “will begin immediately”.

Investigations over an alleged interference during the last US election are also being carried out by the Senate and the House Intelligence Committee.