U.S. President Donald Trump is defending his decision to fire the FBI Director.

The surprise removal of James Comey has led to allegations that Trump is trying to influence an investigation into whether the Trump campaign worked with Russia to affect the recent U.S. Presidential election.

CGTN’s Nathan King reports.

In his first interview since firing the man who was leading the investigation into his campaign’s possible collusion with Russia, President Trump stated his firing of the FBI Director was solely about James Comey’s job performance, and nothing else.

But in Washington, reporters and politicians from both parties have many questions about inconsistencies in statements by the President and his staff following the firing and the reasons given for Comey’s abrupt removal.

Comey was not in the room at a Senate intelligence committee hearing Thursday in the U.S. congress, but his name was on everyone’s lips. His deputy, who was hurriedly sworn in as acting director of the FBI, tried to reassure senators and the U.S. that the investigation into Russian meddling in the 2016 U.S. presidential election would continue unaffected.

“The work of the men and women of the FBI continues, despite any changes in circumstances, any decisions, so there has been no effort to impede our investigation to date,” said Andrew McCabe, the Acting Director of the FBI. “Simply put, you cannot stop the men and women of the FBI from doing the right thing, protecting the American people and upholding the constitution.”

But many in Washington and across the U.S. remain unconvinced the White House isn’t trying to interfere in an investigation that could threaten Trump’s young presidency. Firing an FBI director in the U.S. is a rare occurrence especially when politically sensitive investigations are underway.

Even political allies of Trump are asking why now. The firing of the top U.S. law enforcement official is creating an unnecessary political distraction at a time when the White House was already having problems getting its political priorities passed into law.

The U.S. reputation around the world could suffer, too, as the country becomes consumed by a domestic political crisis.