Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman, who until February served as the top Ukraine policy officer on the National Security Council staff, retired after it became clear that he would be unable to progress in his career, his attorney David Pressman said.
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“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. These are choices that no one in the United States should confront, especially one who has dedicated his life to serving it.”
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“LTC Vindman did what the law compelled him to do; and for that he was bullied by the President and his proxies,” Pressman said. “And yet, LTC Vindman would not be intimidated and will not be corrupted. He did what he has always done: put the interests of his country ahead of his own. LTC Vindman’s patriotism has cost him his career. Today our country loses a devoted soldier, but it is incumbent upon all of us to ensure it does not lose the values he represents.”
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Vindman testified late last year in the impeachment inquiry, telling lawmakers that he raised alarms internally about Trump’s call with the Ukrainian president in which Trump appeared to make continued U.S. aid to Kyiv contingent upon an investigation of Joe Biden and his son.
The officer's testimony infuriated Trump and his allies, who attacked Vindman’s credibility and questioned the Iraq war veteran's patriotism and honesty. Trump called Vindman “insubordinate” in a February tweet, just after Vindman and his twin brother Yevgeny, who also worked at the White House but was not an impeachment witness, were transferred early from the NSC.
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The White House attempted at least once to turn the Pentagon against Vindman. At the White House’s request, the Department of Defense inspector general opened a preliminary inquiry into “allegations of inappropriate behavior” against Vindman, said one U.S. official familiar with the discussions. But after quickly completing the inquiry, the IG found no substantiated claims, and no reason to hold up his promotion, the official said.
Following the inquiry, Army Secretary Ryan McCarthy recommended Vindman be promoted to colonel, the official said. McCarthy included Vindman’s name in a list of officers recommended for promotion he submitted to the office of the secretary of defense on Thursday, according to a senior defense official.
On Monday, Defense Secretary Mark Esper signed off on Vindman’s promotion, along with the other officers on the list, the senior defense official said. The list was slated to be submitted to the White House for approval at the end of the week.
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Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee and potential vice presidential pick [...] last week blocked more than 1,000 military promotions to ensure [Vindman's] promotion wouldn't be stalled.
Duckworth, a retired Army officer who lost both legs while serving in the Iraq war, ripped Esper on Wednesday and said he failed to shield military personnel "against a vindictive Commander in Chief."
Even with Vindman leaving the service, the Illinois Democrat said she'll continue to hold up the 1,123 senior military promotions until she receives "a transparent accounting of this disgraceful situation" from Esper.
Politico
