The New York Times has obtained the opening statement of Lieutenant Colonel Alexander S. Vindman, the top White House expert on Ukraine, who will testify to the House Intelligence Committee on Tuesday about his concerns about President Donald Trump’s telephone call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in July.
The statement, leaked to the Times — though committee chair Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA) has likened impeachment to a “grand jury” proceeding, which is typically conducted in secrecy — is described by the Times as the first account of someone who actually listened in on the telephone call, as opposed to hearing about it second- or third-hand.
In his statement, Vindman — a Ukrainian-American and decorated Army officer who was awarded the Purple Heart after being wounded by a roadside bomb in Iraq — outlines his own views on “The Geopolitical Importance of Ukraine.” He adds: “The U.S. government policy community’ s view is that the election of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and the promise of reforms to eliminate corruption will lock in Ukraine’ s Western-leaning trajectory.”
Vindman says that he became concerned in the spring of 2019 about “outside influencers promoting a false narrative of Ukraine inconsistent with the consensus views of the interagency.”
That concern for the fate of the “consensus views of the interagency” informed Vindman’s approach to the president’s contacts with Zelensky.
Two dead, including infant, after boat capsizes in New York Harbor; 12 rescued
Teen accused of killing 10-year-old cousin Lily Peters may avoid November trial after new hearing scheduled
WATCH: Dems stand by Maine nominee hit with report he fathered children with his second cousin
Hawaii contractor nominated to construct GOP comeback after two-decade Democratic hold on governor’s mansion
Hawaii Gov. Josh Green cruises to Democratic primary win, sets up fall matchup with GOP nominee
Hawaii rep cruises to Dem primary win after challenger arrested for beach brawl
Trump’s 4th of July fireworks display on National Mall confirmed as largest in history
Florida man allegedly kills family’s kittens in front of teenage daughter as form of punishment: officials
Watch: WNBA Player Ejected After Nearly Taking Off Sophie Cunningham’s Head With Clothesline Maneuver
EXCLUSIVE: Teen girls recall Jersey Shore ride malfunction that left them stuck hanging upside down
Trump’s White House ballroom foes face ‘very tough argument’ at Supreme Court, legal experts say
Fauci in the congressional wringer: a test for Trump’s newly-minted Attorney General
Graham replacement hopefuls make final pitches before special election: Iran war, DSA, Flock cams and more
The Hitchhiker’s Guide to what the Senate did and didn’t do overnight
One year on, US-brokered peace between Armenia and Azerbaijan cements US foothold in the Caucasus
He was pleased with Trump’s first congratulatory call to Zelensky in April 2019, but became alarmed in early July when the U.S. Ambassador to the European Union, Gordon Sondland, “started to speak about Ukraine delivering specific investigations in order to secure [a] meeting with the President.” Vindman does not identify those investigations.
Later, during a debriefing with American officials, Sondland “emphasized the importance that Ukraine deliver the investigations into the 2016 election , the Bidens, and Burisma,” Vindman recalls. That is when Vindman pushed back, saying Sondland’s statements were “inappropriate” and the National Security Council would not be involved.
On July 25, when the president called Zelensky to congratulate him on his party’s parliamentary victory, Vindman listened in on the call. He says: “I was concerned by the call. I did not think it was proper to demand that a foreign government investigate a U.S. citizen, and I was worried about the implications for the U.S. government’ s support of Ukraine.” Notably, the transcript of the call suggests that Trump did not “demand” an investigation of the Bidens.
Vindman goes on to say that he concluded that if Ukraine was seen as a partisan player in U.S. politics, that could undermine “bipartisan support” for better relations with Ukraine. “This would all undermine U.S. national security,” Vindman argues, substituting his views — or those of the “interagency” — for those of the president himself.
Two dead, including infant, after boat capsizes in New York Harbor; 12 rescued
Teen accused of killing 10-year-old cousin Lily Peters may avoid November trial after new hearing scheduled
WATCH: Dems stand by Maine nominee hit with report he fathered children with his second cousin
Hawaii contractor nominated to construct GOP comeback after two-decade Democratic hold on governor’s mansion
Hawaii Gov. Josh Green cruises to Democratic primary win, sets up fall matchup with GOP nominee
Hawaii rep cruises to Dem primary win after challenger arrested for beach brawl
Trump’s 4th of July fireworks display on National Mall confirmed as largest in history
Florida man allegedly kills family’s kittens in front of teenage daughter as form of punishment: officials
Watch: WNBA Player Ejected After Nearly Taking Off Sophie Cunningham’s Head With Clothesline Maneuver
EXCLUSIVE: Teen girls recall Jersey Shore ride malfunction that left them stuck hanging upside down
Trump’s White House ballroom foes face ‘very tough argument’ at Supreme Court, legal experts say
Fauci in the congressional wringer: a test for Trump’s newly-minted Attorney General
Graham replacement hopefuls make final pitches before special election: Iran war, DSA, Flock cams and more
The Hitchhiker’s Guide to what the Senate did and didn’t do overnight
One year on, US-brokered peace between Armenia and Azerbaijan cements US foothold in the Caucasus
Vindman says that he reported his concerns to the National Security Council’s lead counsel. He denies being the so-called “whistleblower” or knowing the identity of the “whistleblower,” or wishing to speculate about such. He concludes with another policy view: “The United States and Ukraine are and must remain strategic partners.”
At no point does Vindman accuse the president of breaking the law, but of doing what he thought “inappropriate.”
The public will not see Vindman face questions from the committee, because it is being held behind closed doors and “in defiance of a White House edict not to cooperate with the impeachment inquiry,” the Times reports, though it does not explain that the reason for the White House stance is that the House has not yet authorized the inquiry.
Only one copy of the transcript of Vindman’s testimony will be provided to Republican members of the committee, who will only be allowed to review the transcript with a Democratic staffer present to observe them at all times.
Story cited here.
