Daily US Times, Washington: The White House fires Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman from his post with the National Security Council on Friday. He was a star witness in the inquiry that led to the impeachment of President Trump.
Vindman’s lawyer David Pressman confirmed it in a statement.
The statement says: “Vindman was asked to leave for telling the truth. His honor, his commitment to right, frightened the powerful.”
Vindman was born in Ukraine and came to the U.S as a child. He received a Purple Heart for combat wounds in Iraq.
He was one of the key witnesses in the House hearing of President Trump and testified about listening to Trump’s July 25 phone call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
In a response to House lawmakers’ question about the call in which Trump asked Zelensky to investigate Joe Biden and his son Hunter, the top Ukraine expert at the National Security Council, told “I was concerned by the call, what I heard was inappropriate, and I reported my concerns to Mr. Eisenberg.”
He testified, ”It is improper for the president of the United States to demand a foreign government investigate a U.S. citizen and a political opponent. It was also clear that if Ukraine pursued an investigation into the 2016 election, the Bidens, and Burisma, it would be interpreted as a partisan play.”
Trump has always described the phone call between him and the Ukrainian President as ‘perfect call’. His aides and supporters have criticized Vindman’s account in the House.
After the White House fires Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman, he was escorted from it.
Trump signaled reporters that Vindman’s firing was imminent. “I’m not happy with him,” Trump said.
Vindman’s twin brother, Yevgeney was also dismissed from his position Friday. He had served as an ethics lawyer for the NSC.
Vindman is expected to be reassigned to the Pentagon, where officials have pledged he will not face further retaliation.
Defense Secretary Mark Esper said on Friday ”We protect all of our service members from retribution or anything like that”
Vindman is not the only White House official who testified to the House inquiry to be sacked or reassigned.
Gordon Sondland, the former US ambassador to the European Union is another example. Sondland was also let go on Friday as well.
A statement from him said, “I was advised today that the president intends to recall me effective immediately as United States Ambassador to the European Union.”
Key impeachment witness Alex Vindman and brother fired from White House
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