Sen. Tim Kaine (D., Va.) said Wednesday on "Morning Joe" that President Donald Trump fired FBI Director James Comey because he was feeling increased pressure from the investigations into alleged collusion between his campaign and Russia.
Co-host Mika Brzezinski asked Kaine why he thought Comey was fired. Kaine said he was "stunned" before making his comments about Trump.
"I think the president took this action because he feels the noose tightening in the Russia investigation," the former vice presidential nominee said.
Kaine began listing what he saw as a clear pattern of officials being fired for having connections with Russia.
"There is a clear pattern here," he said. "When Deputy Attorney General Yates told the White House about [then-National Security Adviser Michael] Flynn, his being compromised by and lying about Russia, she got fired. Then NSA Flynn was fired when those contacts with Russia became public. Then Attorney General Sessions was caught misleading the Judiciary Committee about his contacts with Russia and had to recuse himself, and now the [resident has fired the director of the FBI who is conducting an investigation into their ties with Russia."
Kaine went on to say that Trump was concerned about an investigation into his alleged ties with Russia.