Three Senate Republican chairmen with oversight of national security issues signaled Tuesday evening their concern over the sudden termination of FBI Director James Comey in the midst of his agency’s investigation of Russia’s influence over the White House.

Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman John McCain John Sidney McCainKelly's lead widens to 10 points in Arizona Senate race: poll COVID response shows a way forward on private gun sale checks Trump pulls into must-win Arizona trailing in polls MORE (R-Ariz.) said Tuesday that he was “disappointed in the president’s decision to remove James Comey from office.”

He said the unexpected dismissal in the midst of a probe into Russia’s interference in the 2016 presidential election and possible Russian government ties to senior advisers to President Trump warrants the appointment of a special prosecutor.

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“I have long called for a special congressional committee to investigate Russia’s interference in the 2016 election,” McCain said. “The president’s decision to remove the FBI director only confirms the need and the urgency for such a committee.”

Joining McCain, Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Bob Corker Robert (Bob) Phillips CorkerHas Congress captured Russia policy? Tennessee primary battle turns nasty for Republicans Cheney clashes with Trump MORE (R-Tenn.) signaled Tuesday night that he is also concerned about the surprise development.

“While the case for removal of Federal Bureau of Investigation Director James Comey laid out by Deputy Attorney General Rod J. Rosenstein was thorough, his removal at this particular time will raise questions,” said Corker, whose panel has examined efforts by Russia to influence elections.

Corker said it’s “essential that ongoing investigations are fulsome and free of political interference until their completion.”

He added that “it is imperative that President Trump nominate a well-respected and qualified individual to lead the bureau at this critical time.”

Senate Intelligence Committee Chairman Richard Burr Richard Mauze BurrRep. Mark Walker says he's been contacted about Liberty University vacancy Overnight Defense: Trump rejects major cut to military health care | Senate report says Trump campaign's Russia contacts posed 'grave' threat Senate report describes closer ties between 2016 Trump campaign, Russia MORE (R-N.C.) also said he is “troubled by the timing and reasoning of Director Comey’s termination.”

He praised Comey as “a public servant of the highest order,” and said “his dismissal further confuses an already difficult investigation by the Committee.”

“His dismissal, I believe, is a loss for the Bureau and the nation,” he added.

Comey told senators before he was fired that the FBI was investigating members of Trump’s administration for possible ties to the Russian influence on the election.

But he declined to reveal during direct questioning before the Senate Judiciary Committee whether the president himself was a target of the investigation.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell Addison (Mitch) Mitchell McConnellSenate Republicans signal openness to working with Biden Hillicon Valley: DOJ indicts Chinese, Malaysian hackers accused of targeting over 100 organizations | GOP senators raise concerns over Oracle-TikTok deal | QAnon awareness jumps in new poll The Hill's Campaign Report: Biden asks if public can trust vaccine from Trump ahead of Election Day | Oklahoma health officials raised red flags before Trump rally MORE (R-Ky.) has tasked the Senate Intelligence Committee with investigating Russia’s influence in the 2016 election, but Democrats have called for a special prosecutor to handle the probe.

Now Democrats hope that Republicans in addition to McCain, such as Corker or Burr, might be persuaded to back a special independent investigation.

But other Republicans gave Trump political cover on Tuesday night. Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley Charles (Chuck) Ernest GrassleySenate Republicans signal openness to working with Biden Senators offer disaster tax relief bill Trump spikes political football with return of Big Ten season MORE (R-Iowa) said Comey’s leadership on an array of controversial issues, including an investigation into Hillary Clinton Hillary Diane Rodham ClintonBarr criticizes DOJ in speech declaring all agency power 'is invested in the attorney general' Virginia Democrat blasts Trump's 'appalling' remark about COVID-19 deaths in 'blue states' The Hill's Campaign Report: Biden asks if public can trust vaccine from Trump ahead of Election Day | Oklahoma health officials raised red flags before Trump rally MORE’s handing of classified information, gave Trump cause for action.

“Over the course of the last several months, Director Comey’s decisions on controversial matters have prompted concern from across the political spectrum and from career law enforcement experts,” he said.

Sen. Lindsey Graham Lindsey Olin GrahamSenate Republicans signal openness to working with Biden Loeffler calls for hearing in wake of Netflix's 'Cuties' Quinnipiac poll shows Graham, Harrison tied in South Carolina Senate race MORE (R-S.C.), the chairman of the Judiciary panel’s Crime and Terrorism subcommittee, said “a fresh start will serve the FBI and the nation well.”