Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman is leaving his post at the National Security Council, Fox News confirmed Friday.
The timeline of Vindman’s departure is unclear. Vindman was apparently planning to leave his post at the end of the month, but his exit could come sooner.
The news comes after reports that the White House was weighing options to dismiss Vindman from the NSC in an effort to shrink its foreign policy bureaucracy. Bloomberg reported Thursday that the White House planned to frame Vindman’s exit as part of an NSC staff downsizing, not retaliation.
Vindman, though, was an important witness for Democrats during the House impeachment inquiry. Vindman raised concerns over President Trump’s July 25 phone call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, in which he pressed Kiev to launch an investigation concerning presidential candidate Joe Biden’s family.
House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerrold Nadler, D-N.Y., on Friday blasted the White House’s removal of Vindman, calling it a “subversion of justice.”
Trump reveals Iran made ‘significant proposal’ after ultimatum, but ‘not good enough’
Watch: Savannah Guthrie Returns to ‘Today’ Show, Pays Tribute to Missing Mother with Outfit
American woman missing after husband says she fell overboard, swept to sea during Bahamas boat trip: police
Power Company Faces Legal Fight For Making Too Much Energy
Newsom’s California rail project now expected to cost $126B, official admits, with still no tracks laid
Israel hits South Pars natural gas field as Trump deadline looms
Children of Illegal Aliens Linked to Attempted Bombing at U.S. Air Force Base
Martinez: Why President Trump’s War On Fraud Exposes National Scandal
Ceasefire proposal could reopen key oil route amid US-Iran tensions and more top headlines
Behind ‘No Kings’ St. Paul protest: $250K production machine equal to a Def Leppard concert
Lindsey Graham turns ire toward rivals at home amid Iran and DHS shutdown fallout
Iranian intelligence chief and militia commander among those killed in Israeli strikes
President Trump makes endorsement in California gubernatorial race: ‘He will be a GREAT Governor’
GOP races to pass ICE, Border Patrol funding bill as priorities pile up, divisions emerge
Why the Strait of Hormuz matters as Trump issues fresh ultimatum to Iran
“People who disagree with me are not scum,” Nadler told reporters Friday. “It’s more than just settling scores. This is a subversion of justice.”
The House voted to impeach Trump in December. On Wednesday, after a weeks-long trial, the Senate voted to acquit the president on both charges against him—abuse of power and obstruction of Congress.
During Vindman’s testimony before the House Intelligence Committee, he drew applause after expressing his love for America, when asked how he overcame his fear of being retaliated against.
“Congressman, because this is America. This is the country I have served and defended, that all of my brothers have served. And here, right matters,” Vindman said. “I knew I was assuming a lot of risks. [My father] deeply worried about [my testimony]. Because in his context, it was the ultimate risk.”
Story cited here.
