Comey set to testify publicly in Russia investigation, reports say

Former FBI director James Comey will testify publicly in front of the Senate next week in the ongoing investigation into links between Donald Trump's administration and Russia, according to US media reports.

Comey was sacked as head of the Federal Bureau of Investigation in May, and subsequently revealed a memo that appeared to show Trump asking to have the investigation into Michael Flynn and others dropped.

The White House has been dogged by allegations of links with the Kremlin during Trump's successful election campaign last year, and Comey's testimony may be the most significant evidence yet.

The Senate Intelligence Committee is currently investigating the possible connections between senior figures from the Trump campaign and Russia during the election, including former national security adviser Michael Flynn.

The White House has been dogged by allegations of links with the Kremlin

Another former FBI director, Robert Mueller, was recently appointed as a special counsel for the case, and CNN reported on Thursday that Comey and Mueller have spoken in order to make legal arrangements for the testimony.

The White House defended Trump’s actions when news of Comey’s memo surfaced, saying it was “not a truthful or accurate portrayal of the conversation between the President and Mr. Comey."

Critics of the decision to sack Comey have pointed towards the intelligence chief's continuing investigation into the campaign as a major reason for his dismissal.