Comey committed 'atrocities' as FBI Director: White House

A day after United States President Donald Trump fired FBI director James Comey, the White House said the latter committed "atrocities" while he held the position.

U.S. deputy press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders has said that Trump had considered firing Comey since "day one," but made his final decision after receiving written and verbal feedback from Justice Department officials, The Independent reports.

"I think also having a letter like the one he received and having that conversation that outlined the basic, just, atrocities in circumventing the chain of command in the Department of Justice ... When he saw that, he had to speak up on that action, and I think that was the final catalyst," Sanders said.

Sanders also claimed that Trump had lost confidence in Comey "since the day he was elected."

Sanders added that multiple Justice Department officials had expressed their doubts about Comey in a meeting with the President.

The comments came as Sanders scrambled to answer questions about the unexpected decision.