Fox News is reportedly keeping Judge Andrew Napolitano off the air indefinitely after his controversial claims that GCHQ spied on Donald Trump at the request of Barack Obama.

Mr Napolitano, who has not been on the air since Thursday, is not expected to be on the news network any time in the near future, sources told the LA Times.

The former judge was conspicuously absent on Monday as a host of other legal experts discussed the testimony of FBI Director James Comey to the House Intelligence Committee and the first confirmation hearing of Supreme Court nominee Neil Gorsuch.

The LA Times report was later confirmed by CNN and Associated Press. Fox News and Mr Napolitano have not yet commented.

In a statement read on the Fox News programme “MediaBuzz” on Sunday, Mr Napolitano stood by his remarks. He said he “reported what the sources told me, reported it accurately and I do believe the substance of what they told me.”