Welcome to bbc news. Within the last few minutes, President Trump has sacked the head of the fbi, james comey. The white house said mr comey had been dismissed on the recommendation of the attorney Generaljeff Sessions and his deputy. Mr sessions told President Trump that the director of the fbi must be someone who followed the rules of the usjustice department. The white house said a search for a successor would begin immediately. Mr comey had been leading an investigation into links alleged links between the Trump Election Campaign and russia. The statement from the white house comes from the press Secretary Sean Spicer, it says today, President Donald Trump informed Directorjames Comey that he has been terminated and removed from office. President trump acted on the recommendation of rod and the attorney Generaljeff Sessions. The fbi is one of the nation s most cherished and respected institutions and today will mark a new beginning for our crime jewel of law enforcement. Mr trump will search for a new permanent fbi director will begin immediately. That was issued in the last few minutes. We know it has been a difficult 12 months for mr koh me. He was embroiled in the controversy during the election campaign. Comey. With the Hillary Clinton in a campaign. Hillary clinton in a campaign. Hillary clinton suggested the release of certain documents and the handling of the fbi of the hacking of those e mails relating to the Democratic Party last year was a contributing factor to her defeat, in her eyes. Comey also giving testimony to a House Committee looking to alleged links between the Donald Trump Campaign during the fight for the white house and russia and certain diplomats. President trumps First National security adviser Michael Flynn had to resign for not being truthful about his contact with the russian officials primarily, the russian officials primarily, the Russian Ambassador to the us, this after he was confirmed as the National Security adviser so lots to talk about concerning this decision might President Trump to fire james comey, the head of the fbi. This is supposed to be a non partisan position and they usually serve around ten years in office. He was appointed by President Obama but he did have several years to run off his term as head of the fbi. Lets talk to daniel from the politico website. This is a shock . It is a com plete website. This is a shock . It is a complete huge surprise. Comey it is probably the most surprised because he thought he would stay in office and repair his reputation, Holding Trump accountable in the investigation. Now he is out of a job and he will not be able to redefine his legacy after it took a hit last year. Why has he been fired due you think . I think the Trump White House was looking for an excuse white house was looking for an excuse to get rid of him and they found one in the last few days because comey misstated kew congress and said Hillary Clintons top aide had forwarded messages to her husband, some of which have classified information. Anthony winner, her husband, had a reputation for sexually inappropriate messages and he had to resign. That was not true. She did not fall would those messages to her husband and said the fbi had to Tell Congress comey that made a mistake. There is some confusion as to whether or not this allegation, these e mails were forwarded to Anthony Winner that they were true but did he give that information to congress in good faith . That is a good question. Hes not the type of person that knowingly misled congress. That is not who we use. This was probablyjust a simple error on his part in terms of the wattie remembered and it was not misleading. This guy should not have been fired he was a faithful Public Servant and now he is out of a job. He is leading an investigation into russian officials and the trump campaign. Is there a suggestion that could be blow backs for the president , being seen to get rid of a critic . That is what washington is talking about. Comey if is not there, today was his last day, who will lead the fbi and will that person be an ally of trump. Will the new direct to be as independent comey as was. Those hearings are going to be critical as to whether 01 going to be critical as to whether or not a new going to be critical as to whether 01 not a new person coming going to be critical as to whether or not a new person coming in to ta ke or not a new person coming in to take over thisjob or not a new person coming in to take over this job is or not a new person coming in to take over thisjob is going to be free and fair in terms of dealing with these allegations . Yes, i think eve ryo ne with these allegations . Yes, i think everyone in washington is wondering will the new fbi director be able to hold trump accountable and to carry out free and fair investigations into the russian connection. If it is going to be a compass are get them that will lead Many Americans to distrust the fbi even more than they already did. Thank you for joining us. Lets talk to Associate Editor of the us political insight, the hill. Good to Hearfrom You Editor of the us political insight, the hill. Good to hear from you and thank you forjoining us on the programme. This seems to have come Out Of The Blue for every one but according to our last guests, it seems to be related to the testimony given by mr comey in the last few days. That is the conjecture. This is something of a bombshell. The White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer was asked earlier today whether President Trump had confidence in james comey whether President Trump had confidence Injames Comey and he gave a noncommittal answer but certainly i think the white house was concerned with some of the things that james comey was concerned with some of the things Thatjames Comey had said the congress, and with investigations more broadly and that is one of the reasons why this is a huge story. Why do you think the things comey mr said before congress what are the things that put his head on the block in terms of possible dismissal . That is an interesting question because he has been cautious in his testimony, not to. Not to endanger any kind of investigation that has been carrying Soi Investigation that has been carrying so i would have thought he has been fairly circumspect in that respect but obviously it is still a big issue. The Trump Administration in terms of the rationale it has provided is not saying it was anything to do with that testimony and that they are harking back to his conduct in relation to Hillary Clinton during last year s president ial campaign which is i think an explanation regarded with some scepticism here in washington. To be clear, you are hearing they are making it clear this man has been fired because of the Hillary Clinton case last year . Yes. I mean, the Deputy Attorney general ron roz and staying roz and stain there isa and staying roz and stain there is a letter come out that basically comey did not behave in an appropriate fashion a letter talking about the fact he was wrong. There was an announcement about the case needed to be closed and it also said that the director ignored another principle to release derogatory information. This by Rod Rosenstein. Many people see this as the politicisation of the department and processes. Politicisation of the department and processes. People are not overly persuaded by that argument. processes. People are not overly persuaded by that argument. If these are the arguments, one wonders why the decision to terminate mr comeys contract is now and not as soon as the president took office. Yes, very much so. After he had misstated an issue regarding huma abedin. The issue regarding huma abedin. The issueis issue regarding huma abedin. The issue is that there are complex but he had stated in testimony that huma abedin did something she did not do, send thousands of classified e mails to her then husband. But over role, i think looks by critics President Trump as an excuse and that he was released for different reasons. Our correspondent is in washington with more on this. What more are the white house saying about all these . We actually have a letter that President Trump set to the now former fbi Directorjames Comey. It is an interesting letter. In it he says, while i greatly appreciate you informing me on three separate occasions that i, the president of the united states, are not under investigation, like nevertheless concur with the judgement of the Department Ofjustice that you are not able to lead the bureau. We need to restore public trust. That was directly from the president. The white house spokesperson said that the move came after President Trump was recommended by the Deputy Attorney general Rod Rosenstein and the attorney Generaljeff Sessions to replace a direct comey. We have not been given any more details about what made them change their mind about comey director and his ability to lead the bureau either than what was in that latter. That comes in the same day when the director came under criticism for having to clarify that he made false state m e nts having to clarify that he made false statements under oath to the Judiciary Committee about the extent of Hillary Clinton close aide, huma abedin, and her forwarding of Hillary Clinton close aide, huma abedin, and herforwarding thousands of e mails to her husbands laptop which turned out to be inaccurate. How much longer did james comey have in thejob . How much longer did james comey have in the job . He was appointed in 2013 by President Obama so really he was just getting into that. It was a very busy one for him. He has really been the centre of these allegations, three congressional committees, the fbi, investigating the Trump Administration possible ties to Russia Collusion in the 2016 election. Earlier the president in the later to comey director said he was informed of three separate occasions that he was not investigated with any links to russia At Comey Director has come underfire from russia At Comey Director has come under fire from the democrats saying he stole the election from Hillary Clinton. Days before the election he sent a letter to congress saying he was a reopening the investigation into Hillary Clintons e mails because of those e mails of huma abedin found on her husband laptop. Republicans are very angry