Lieutenant-Colonel Alexander Vindman was dismissed from his position on the National Security Council in February.
Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman, who has provided overwhelming evidence of impeachment against President Donald Trump, retired from the U.S. military on Wednesday after being the target of an “intimidation, intimidation and retaliation, “said his lawyer.
Vindman, 45, was fired from his National Security Council post in the White House in February, two days after Trump’s acquittal by the Republican-dominated Senate.
Vindman was vying for promotion to the rank of full colonel, but his lawyer, David Pressman, said in a statement that clearly would not be forthcoming.
Vindman “is retiring today after it has been clearly established that his future at the institution he has conscientiously served will be forever limited,” said Pressman.
“LTC Vindman’s patriotism has cost him his career,” he said.
“In a campaign of intimidation, intimidation and reprisals, the President of the United States tried to force LTC Vindman to choose: between respecting the law or pleasing a president. Between honoring his oath or protecting his career.
“These are choices that no one in the United States should face, especially the one who has dedicated his life to serving him,” said Pressman.
Democratic Senator Tammy Duckworth – a combat veteran who is on the shortlist of candidates for Joe Biden’s presidential running mate against Trump in the fall – said the resignation “highlights the failure of the defense secretary Mark Esper to protect a decorated combat veteran from a vindictive commander-in-chief. “
She said she would continue to block Senate confirmation of 1,123 high-ranking US military promotions until Esper could give “transparent accounts” of the situation.
Meanwhile, House Intelligence Chief Adam Schiff published a letter which he sent to Vindman thanking him for his service.
“You should not have been subjected to intimidation and reprisals from this president. You should not have chosen between your oath of office and your career. You followed your patriotic and legal duty to tell the truth “wrote the Democrat.
Vindman was present during the July 25, 2019 phone call during which Trump asked Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to investigate Biden.
Summoned by Congress to testify at the recall hearings, the Ukrainian-born Vindman, who received a Purple Heart for injuries sustained in Iraq, said that Trump’s actions were “inappropriate”.
This testimony helped build the case leading to Trump becoming only the third president ever deposed from Congress.
Vindman’s twin brother, a lawyer with the National Security Council, was not called to testify publicly but was also forced to leave his White House post in February.
John Bolton, who was Trump’s national security adviser when Vindman was in the White House, said on MSNBC television that his performance was “exceptional”.
“I think he deserved a promotion,” said Bolton, who recently published an eye-opening book about his stay at Trump’s White House, which severely criticizes the president.
“And I am sure Congress will be very interested in the coming weeks to find out exactly what took his decision into account,” he said.
