By Canberk Yuksel
NEW YORK (AA) - President Donald Trump on Tuesday fired FBI Director James Comey, the White House announced in a statement.
Trump informed Comey that he has been "terminated and removed from office" based on recommendations by Attorney General Jeff Sessions and Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein, the statement said.
"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," the statement quoted President Trump as saying.
A search for a "new permanent FBI Director" will begin immediately, the statement added.
Comey has been at the center of controversy since he disclosed a sensitive investigation into presidential hopeful Hillary Clinton in the waning days of last year's bitterly contested election.
Clinton last week blamed her loss to Donald Trump in part to Comey's decision.