Preet Bharara raises concerns over Comey's firing

India-born former top federal prosecutor Preet Bharara on Wednesday raised concerns about US President Donald Trump's decision to fire FBI Director James Comey, saying "everyone who cares about independence and rule of law" should be troubled by the move.

Trump fired Comey, saying he was no longer effectively able to lead the bureau and it was necessary to restore "public trust and confidence" in it.

Bharara, 48, who himself was fired by the Trump administration, tweeted, "EVERYONE who cares about independence & rule of law in America should be 'troubled by the timing and reasoning' of Comey firing." Bharara was one of 46 attorneys Trump asked to resign after taking office. His dismissal had also came as a surprise after the attorney said Trump asked him to remain in his post shortly after the election. Several lawmakers also questioned the timing of Comey's removal as the FBI is investigating Russia's alleged interference in the 2016 presidential election, including any possible links between the Trump campaign and Moscow.

"I am troubled by the timing and reasoning of Director Comey's termination," said Republican Senator Richard Burr." This is Nixonian. Deputy AG Rod Rosenstein must immediately appoint a special prosecutor to continue the Trump/Russia investigation," tweeted Senator Bob Casey.

California Senator Kamala Harris, "His (Comey's) firing puts that investigation into further question, she said.

American Civil Liberties Union executive director Anthony D Romero said the independence of the FBI director is meant to ensure that the president does not operate above the law. "For President Trump to fire the man responsible for investigating his own campaign s ties to the Russians imperils that fundamental principle," he said. Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal, who is currently in India as part of a Congressional delegation, said, "The manner and suddenness of FBI Director Comey s firing is deeply disturbing." "As I have said before, we urgently need a fully bipartisan and independent investigation into Russia s influence on the White House and the 2016 election," Jayapal said.

US Democrats have reacted angrily saying it raises serious questions as the agency is investigating his election campaign's alleged links to Russia's meddling in the US polls. "I told the president, 'President, with all due respect you are making a big mistake,'" the top Democrat in the Senate, Chuck Schumer, told reporters.

The Senate Minority Leader demanded that the Department of Justice appoint a special prosecutor to look into allegations of Russian hacking and its influence on the 2016 elections.

"The American people need to have faith that an investigation as serious as this one is being conducted impartially, without a shred of bias. The only way the American people can have faith in this investigation is for it to be led by a fearless, independent special prosecutor," he said.

The firing of top officials like Sally Yates and Preet Bharara, and now Comey does not seem to be a coincidence, Schumer said. "This investigation must be run as far away as possible from this White House and as far away as possible from anyone that President Trump has appointed." Schumer also questioned the timing of the shock decision, which came days after Comey testified on Capitol Hill about the FBI's investigation into Russia's election meddling and a possible collusion between the country and Trump's campaign.

The US media, already at odds with President Donald Trump, on Wednesday criticised him for sacking Comey, saying his abrupt move has cast "grave doubt" on the viability of any further probe into what could be one of the biggest political scandals in America's history.

"The explanation for this shocking move that Comey's bungling of the investigation into Hillary Clinton's private email server violated longstanding Justice Department policy and profoundly damaged public trust in the agency is impossible to take at face value," the Editorial Board of the New York Times said in an opinion piece.