Comey's sacking not due to Russia probe: Pence

United States Vice President Mike Pence has praised President Donald Trump's decision to fire FBI director James Comey, while insisting that the decision wasn't made due to the ongoing probe into alleged ties between Russia and Trump's campaign.

"As has been stated repeatedly and the President has been told, he's not under investigation," Pence said, added, "There is no evidence of collusion between our campaign and any Russian officials," CNN reports.

He also said Comey's successor would restore the bureau's credibility.

"Let me be very clear that the President's decision to accept the recommendation of the deputy attorney general and the attorney general to remove Director Comey as the head of the FBI was based solely and exclusively on his commitment to the best interests of the American people and to ensuring that the FBI has the trust and confidence of the people this nation," Pence added.

Trump also later responded to the controversy for the first time in person and told the reporters in the Oval Office he fired Comey because "he wasn't doing a good job.