The White House has wielded a critical memo from Rosenstein to justify Trump's decision to fire Comey. Rosenstein's memo focused only on Comey's handling of last year's investigation into Democrat Hillary Clinton's email practices. It does not mention the Russia investigation.
Trump insisted that he will soon be "thanked" for firing James Comey as FBI director, as the White House continues to insist that the sacking was nothing to do with the Russia investigation.
Sergei Lavrov, the Russian Foreign Minister, is in Washington today to meet Trump and his Secretary of State, Rex Tillerson.
Lavrov laughed at the decision, replying: "Was he fired? You're kidding!"
Trump spent the morning tweeting in defence of his decision.
A series of reports - in Politico, the Washington Post and on CNN - have portrayed a White House shocked at the anger surrounding the firing.
Comey had been criticised by Democrats for his handling of the saga of Hillary Clinton's emails. But no Democrats have celebrated his firing - particularly as he is currently heading an investigation into the Trump team's contacts with Russians.
Today a White House spokesman, Sarah Huckerbee Sanders, was asked whether the firing was connected to the Russian investigation.
"Absolutely not," she replied.
The sacking prompted angry Democrats to call for the Russia probe to be placed in the hands an independent prosecutor or commission.
The Senate intelligence committee has asked Comey to appear before the committee next week.
It is the first time Comey has been asked to appear before Congress as a private citizen.
Rebecca Watkins, a spokeswoman for the committee, said Comey has been invited to meet in a closed session next Wednesday NZT.
Comey had been slated to appear before the committee later this week to discuss ongoing threats to US security. But the committee says acting FBI Director Andrew McCabe will stand in for Comey at tomorrow's hearing. Several high-ranking intelligence officials will join McCabe at that open hearing.
- additional reporting AP
