Top US Republican admits Donald Trump crisis is now 'the size of Watergate'

The controversy surrounding Donald Trump has now reached the size of the Watergate scandal, according to one of the most senior Republican senators.

John McCain, who was beaten by Barack Obama to the US presidency in 2008, has compared the crisis enveloping Trump to the infamous Watergate incident, that saw President Richard Nixon ultimately resign.

While being asked about reports that claimed Trump had put pressure on former FBI Director James Comey to drop the investigation into former national security adviser Michael Flynn, McCain told reporters: “We’ve seen this movie before.

“It’s reaching Watergate size and scale.

“This is not good for the country.”

President Nixon and his administration were found to have had the offices of political opponents bugged.

MORE: Donald Trump’s odds of impeachment have been slashed… but he remains favourite to win in 2020
MORE: Six Reasons Why Donald Trump Fired James Comey

Nixon and his close aides also ordered investigations of activist groups and political figures, in a scandal that was uncovered following a break-in at the Democratic National Committee (DNC) headquarters at the Watergate office complex in Washington.

Asked what advice he would now give to Trump in the wake of the allegations – that have been denied by the White House – McCain reportedly told Bob Schieffer from CBS News: “The same thing that you advised Richard Nixon, which he didn’t do … get it all out…

“It’s not going to be over until every aspect of it is thoroughly examined and the American people make a judgement.

“And the longer you delay, the longer it’s going to last.”

Commenting on the claims in the New York Times that Trump had applied pressure on Comey, the White House said: “The President has the utmost respect for our law enforcement agencies, and all investigations.

“This is not a truthful or accurate portrayal of the conversation between the President and Mr. Comey.”

Top pic: Rex