Trump ousts White House staffer who testified against him in impeachment - lawyer

By Jeff Mason and Karen Freifeld

 

FILE PHOTO: Lt. Colonel Alexander Vindman, director for European Affairs at the National Security Council, reads from his White House performance appraisal as he testifies before a House Intelligence Committee hearing as part of the impeachment inquiry into U.S. President Donald Trump on Capitol Hill in Washington, U.S., November 19, 2019. REUTERS/Loren Elliott

 

WASHINGTON/NEW YORK (Reuters) - The Trump administration on Friday removed Army Lieutenant Colonel Alexander Vindman from his position as the White House's top Ukraine expert after he provided damaging testimony about President Donald Trump during the impeachment process, Vindman's lawyer said.

 

Vindman was escorted out of the White House where he had worked on the National Security Council (NSC), lawyer David Pressman said in a statement, adding that the move was retribution for Vindman's testimony.

 

"There is no question in the mind of any American why this man's job is over, why this country now has one less soldier serving it at the White House. LTC Vindman was asked to leave for telling the truth," Pressman said.

 

Vindman testified to the House of Representatives impeachment inquiry in November that Trump made an improper demand of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in a July phone call that became the centerpiece of the probe of the Republican president.

 

Vindman told a Democratic-run committee "I couldn't believe what I was hearing" in the phone call. Trump asked Zelensky to launch investigations into both Democratic rival Joe Biden and a widely debunked conspiracy theory that Ukraine, not Russia, was behind meddling in the 2016 U.S. presidential election.

 

In that appearance, Vindman also downplayed concerns that he would suffer payback for speaking out. "I will be fine for telling the truth," he said.

 

A spokesman for the NSC declined to comment.

 

Trump emerged victorious from his trial this week with a vote in the Senate, controlled by fellow Republicans who rejected abuse of power and obstruction of justice charges.

 

Asked earlier on Friday about media reports that he might remove Vindman, Trump told reporters: "I'm not happy with him. You think I'm supposed to be happy with him?...They're going to be making that decision."

 

A source familiar with the situation told Reuters that Vindman would be reassigned to the Defense Department.

 

Vindman's two-year stint at the White House was due to end in July.

 

U.S. Defense Secretary Mark Esper said on Friday that the Pentagon protects all service members from retribution.

 

Trump, who became only the third U.S. president to be impeached, has said he is still bitter as he turns his attention to seeking a second four-year term in the Nov. 3 presidential election.

 

MULVANEY REPORT

 

Another senior white House aide who testified over impeachment, Jennifer Williams, left this week for a post at the U.S. military's Central Command, according to Bloomberg News.

 

Trump has cast both Vindman and Williams as "Never Trumpers" who oppose him.

 

Trump denied reports that he was weighing a permanent chief of staff to replace acting aide Mick Mulvaney, who was a central figure in the impeachment inquiry.

 

"That was a false report. I have a great relationship with Mick," Trump said.

 

Democrats say Trump pushed for the Ukraine investigations to undermine Biden, a candidate to win the Democratic nomination for November's election. Trump says he wanted to help Ukraine fight corruption.

 

Biden's presidential campaign suffered a serious setback when he came in fourth place at the Democrats' first state nominating contest in Iowa this week.

 

Senate Republicans have been investigating Hunter Biden, who served on the board of a Ukrainian gas company while his father, Joe, was U.S. vice president.

 

Senators Chuck Grassley and Ron Johnson have asked for the younger Biden's travel records while under official Secret Service protection, among other official records. Democratic lawmakers say the Treasury Department has provided Congress with some financial records involving Hunter Biden.

 

Trump had urged Ukraine to investigate both Bidens, though there has been no evidence of wrongdoing by either one.

 

(Reporting by Jeff Mason and Steve Holland; Additional reporting by Susan Heavey, Lisa Lambert, David Morgan, Mark Hosenball, Karen Freifeld and Idrees Ali; Writing by Alistair Bell; Editing by Andy Sullivan, Howard Goller and Daniel Wallis)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2020-02-08

Follow Thaivisa on LINE for breaking Thailand news and visa info

I see ANOTHER book deal happening.

 

Two areas of commerce have really prospered with the election of Trump.

1) Advertising, especially television.

2) Book publishers.

Charge Vindman with treason!

22 minutes ago, Kelsall said:

Charge Vindman with treason!

Have you smelt any napalm this morning? It's the smell of victory!

What too so long to fire this patriot? Shame, Trump, Shame

44 minutes ago, Kelsall said:

Charge Vindman with treason!

Did you make a spelling error.  Perhaps you meant to write Reason.

send him to ISIS for processing or remove from gene pool immediately...idiot...total waste of balls.

49 minutes ago, Kelsall said:

Charge Vindman with treason!

Sad that you can't see the woods for the trees, you at least need new glasses.

 

Under this president honesty is dead.

55 minutes ago, Kelsall said:

Charge Vindman with treason!

for telling the truth

oh forgot that is an offence

17 minutes ago, Puchaiyank said:

"Trump had urged Ukraine to investigate both Bidens, though there has been no evidence of wrongdoing by either one."

 

No kidding...evidence is what an investigation might produce...like the no investigation into the HRC's misdeeds.

Obviously poor journalism in this matter, perhaps the meaning is that an investigation ws conducted which produced no evidence of wrongdoing by either Biden.

 

 

34 minutes ago, PatOngo said:

Have you smelt any napalm this morning? It's the smell of victory!

Or perhaps stocks of napalm are low after bush's hawk team and after Boltons' efforts to start a war.

1 hour ago, Kelsall said:

Charge Vindman with treason!

Give that man a medal for heroism in the face of an abusive wanna be dictator above and beyond the call of duty that took true courage 

4 minutes ago, Tug said:

Give that man a medal for heroism in the face of an abusive wanna be dictator above and beyond the call of duty that took true courage 

I expect that he will be awarded his medal at the 2021 SOTU address by the next president.

50 minutes ago, Somtamnication said:

What too so long to fire this patriot? Shame, Trump, Shame

Ukrainian patriot.

I guess with this current authoritarian president Vindman's Dad and Putin were right - - the US really isn't better than Russia. At least when it comes to telling the truth about leaders.

 

Putin wins.

The American people lose.

Sad. 

Edited February 7, 20206 yr by Jingthing

1 minute ago, Jingthing said:

I guess with this current authoritarian president Vindman's Dad and Putin were right - - the US really isn't better than Russia. Putin wins. The American people lose. Sad. 

One of the perks of being president is you get to appoint- and fire- lots of people. That has nothing to do with Putin, Russia, blah blah blah.

 

Of course, no president is going to want to keep people who hate him around. Did you really expect Ukrainian-born, Ukrainian activist LTC Vindman, who trashed his own country and country men to Russian military officers, would be kept around in the White House? Seriously, bro?

3 minutes ago, Crazy Alex said:

Ukrainian patriot.

Medal of valor recipient who did his patriotic duty.

 

Something trump supporters know nothing about.

 

But do tell us. What did he do to assist ukraine.

Just now, Crazy Alex said:

One of the perks of being president is you get to appoint- and fire- lots of people. That has nothing to do with Putin, Russia, blah blah blah.

 

Of course, no president is going to want to keep people who hate him around. Did you really expect Ukrainian-born, Ukrainian activist LTC Vindman, who trashed his own country and country men to Russian military officers, would be kept around in the White House? Seriously, bro?

Seriously bro you need comprehension classes if thats your take on it.

 

His own country is USA for which he has a medal of valor for service.

Just now, Sujo said:

But do tell us. What did he do to assist ukraine.

I don't know, but given Ukraine offered him the Minister of Defense position, they must have clearly thought he was acting in their best interests. We need AMERICANS in our government who act in AMERICA'S best interests.

1 hour ago, Kelsall said:

Charge Vindman with treason!

Evidently, you don't understand the definition of the word treason. Vindman did the opposite of treason. Trump is the one who might have come closer to treason in his blackmail effort.

 

Here's a simple definition for you from Wiki that I resourced for you. Hope this helps.

 

In law, treason is criminal disloyalty, typically to the state. It is a crime that covers some of the more extreme acts against one's nation or sovereign. Wikipedia

Just now, Sujo said:

Seriously bro you need comprehension classes if thats your take on it.

 

His own country is USA for which he has a medal of valor for service.

Wow, he won a medal. Liberals do like their bright, shiny objects.

Just now, Crazy Alex said:

I don't know, but given Ukraine offered him the Minister of Defense position, they must have clearly thought he was acting in their best interests. We need AMERICANS in our government who act in AMERICA'S best interests.

If you dont know then why did you say he did. Oh nevermind.

 

1 minute ago, Crazy Alex said:

Wow, he won a medal. Liberals do like their bright, shiny objects.

medal of valor. 

 

Not the same as the shiny bright medal given to Rush that the right loves.

 

Trump supporters sure do like to trash war heroes.

The mafia has a name for that:

19 minutes ago, Crazy Alex said:

We need AMERICANS in our government who act in AMERICA'S best interests.

And why do people still support Trump?

Because he is only interested in TRUMP's best interests.

Edited February 8, 20206 yr by OneMoreFarang

2 hours ago, Kelsall said:

Charge Vindman with treason!

At a minimum Treason needs to be cited. Same for the rest of the coup losers. 

 

MAGA 

57 minutes ago, Crazy Alex said:

One of the perks of being president is you get to appoint- and fire- lots of people. That has nothing to do with Putin, Russia, blah blah blah.

 

Of course, no president is going to want to keep people who hate him around. Did you really expect Ukrainian-born, Ukrainian activist LTC Vindman, who trashed his own country and country men to Russian military officers, would be kept around in the White House? Seriously, bro?

We’re did vidman say he hated trump?no he was trying to protect American ideals like the constitution you know the thing trump is supposed to protect but go ahead try to say  poor poor trump is the victim the master slander and troll I’m not a mark I see him for what he is and I suspect many others do as well a corrupt slandering troll 

1 hour ago, OneMoreFarang said:

And why do people still support Trump?

Because he is only interested in TRUMP's best interests.

That's a $391 million dollar question.

2 hours ago, mike787 said:

send him to ISIS for processing or remove from gene pool immediately...idiot...total waste of balls.

He’s served the nation with honor and done his duty to tell the truth.

 

Service, honor, truth.

 

Three things of no value to Trump.

If you don't know what the Mafia is ... well, all American governments are a perfect example!
The president of the USA is the chief of the leaders ... THE GODFATHER!