Colonel testifies he raised concerns about Ukraine, Trump

AP ^ | October 29th, 2019 | By LISA MASCARO, MARY CLARE JALONICK and COLLEEN LONG

[Mariner]

WASHINGTON (AP) — Defying White House orders, an Army officer serving with President Donald Trump’s National Security Council testified to impeachment investigators Tuesday that he twice raised concerns over the administration’s push to have Ukraine investigate Democrats and Joe Biden.

Alexander Vindman, a lieutenant colonel who served in Iraq and later as a diplomat, is the first official to testify who actually heard Trump’s July 25 call with new Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy. He reported his concerns to the NSC’s lead counsel, he said in his prepared remarks.

His arrival in military blue, with medals , created a striking image at the Capitol as the impeachment inquiry reached deeper into the White House.

“I was concerned by the call,” Vindman said, according to his testimony obtained by The Associated Press. “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.”

Vindman, a 20-year military officer, added to the mounting evidence from other witnesses -- diplomats, defense and former administration officials -- who are corroborating the initial whistleblower’s complaint against Trump and providing new details ahead of a House vote in the impeachment inquiry.

[Mariner]

This a$$hole admits the source of his consternation is he is worried about the impact of US policy on Ukraine. Because the propriety of POTUS asking another government to investigate a US citizen is indisputable.

And he does so in uniform against orders from the POTUS.

Courts Martial.

[Republican Wildcat]

Oh, goody. Another witness to tell us their “knowledge” of the call when we have the transcript of the call itself.

They just stuck to the same script as if Trump didn’t release the transcript of the call they were planning all along.

[shelterguy]

So the title says colonel and the text says lieutenant colonel. Did he drop a grade within a paragraph?

[Souled_Out]

The clerk thinks his opinion counts.

[Diogenesis]

The seditious traitor should hang with his brother
and pencil-neck after Military Trial.

[SkyDancer]

They’re going to keep this nonsense up for the next five years Trump is in office. BTW since Trump is CIC, he’s that idiot’s commander.

[Flaming Conservative]

Don’t know anything about military law, but this guy needs to be fired, yesterday.

[E. Pluribus Unum]

WE HAVE THE TRANSCRIPT, DUFUS!

Your opinion of the exchange is like an Obama-hole... everybody has one

[ptsal]

Dude is toast

[GreyFriar]

As a retired Army officer, I see this LTC as letting his position and self-importance go to his head. And possibly let his partisan political views take control of his actions. Based upon his job description, he is (and now hopefully WAS) NOT a policy maker. He may have been involved with reviewing possible policies, but it was NOT for him to take ideas outside of the chain of command. And this is NOT a case where he can say that he was given an illegal order to follow and thus obliged to refuse and inform his chain of command, but not go outside of it, other than going to a chaplain or the IG.

[Williams]

He was concerned investigating Biden would harm bipartisan support for Ukraine.

But it DIDN’T.

And why was it ok for Biden to use Ukraine to help his son, but that didn’t threaten support for Ukraine?

Something really fascinating is happening, Democrats and media are admitting there is a deep state and they claim it’s great because it opposes Trump.

[Mariner]

Do you agree he grossly violated the UCMJ?

[GreyFriar]

Lieutenant Colonels are commonly addressed as “Colonel” particularly if they are a battalion commander. That is considered as part of Army tradition and courtesy. Similar to 2nd and 1st Lieutenants being called “Lieutenant.”

[DarthVader]

Absolutely!! He is a spy!

[shelterguy]

Good explanation. I’ll stick with calling him dickhead.

[FreeAtlanta]

He sounds like an unstable pos that we don’t want nor need in uniform or any public service. Sort of like James Comey, Strzok, Page, John Brennan, and the other self important partisans.

[GreyFriar]

There is a very possible violation of the UCMJ. I’ll withhold comment until I know more, especially about who he told. However, I don’t see Schitfful of letting that happen during his star chamber persecution of President Trump.

[gov_bean_ counter]

Consider for a moment the possibility that Schiff is calling all co-conspirators to testify in hopes of a judge granting them “whistleblower” status at a later date.

[stylin19a]

again, nothing there. It's his opinion.

The Col.'s opening statement tells it all.

On July 25, 2019, the call occurred. I listened in on the call in the Situation Room with colleagues from the NSC and the office of the Vice President. As the transcript is in the public record, we are all aware of what was said.

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.

The transcript screws 'em all up...

[gov_bean_ counter]

Demand? What damn demand???