Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman, a key witness in President Donald Trump’s impeachment inquiry, is retiring from the US Army after more than 21 years of military service because he determined that his future in the armed forces “will forever be limited” due to political retaliation by the President and his allies, his lawyer told CNN Wednesday.
Through a campaign of bullying, intimidation, and retaliation, the president of the United States attempted to force LTC Vindman to choose: Between adhering to the law or pleasing a President. Between honoring his oath or protecting his career. Between protecting his promotion or the promotion of his fellow soldiers,â Pressman said. “Vindman’s patriotism has cost him his career.”
Vindman, who was the National Security Council’s Ukraine expert, testified last fall about his concerns surrounding a call between Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
Breaking: Lt Col Alexander Vindman to retire from military. His lawyer blames White House 'campaign of bullying, intimidation and retaliation' – CNN exclusive. https://t.co/z2qKMTVYuR
— Jim Sciutto (@jimsciutto) July 8, 2020
BREAKING: Lt Col Vindman is retiring from the military due to Trump’s “campaign of bullying, intimidation and retaliation,” his lawyer says. Trump is the biggest draft-dodging traitor in US history.
— Scott Dworkin (@funder) July 8, 2020
Alexander Semyon Vindman (born June 6, 1975) is a United States Army lieutenant colonel who was the Director for European Affairs for the United States National Security Council (NSC) until he was reassigned on February 7, 2020. Vindman came to national attention in October 2019 when he testified before the United States Congress regarding the Trump–Ukraine scandal.
Commissioned in 1999 as an infantry officer, Vindman received a Purple Heart medal for wounds he received from an IED attack in the Iraq War in 2004. Vindman became a foreign area officer specializing in Eurasia in 2008, and assumed the position of Director for European Affairs with the NSC in 2018.