‘Patriot’ soldier testifies against Trump’s version of Ukraine call
A US Army officer serving at the White House told the impeachment inquiry Donald Trump’s effort to have Ukraine investigate his Democrat rival Joe Biden “undermined national security”.
Alexander Vindman, a lieutenant colonel who was injured in Iraq, gave evidence behind closed doors to Congressional committees investigating the president.
Lt Col Vindman was the first person to testify who personally listened in to a July 25 phone call between Mr Trump and Volodymyr Zelensky, the Ukrainian president, which is at the heart of the controversy.
He was so alarmed that he reported the call to a White House lawyer. He had previously reported similar concerns to a superior on July 10.
Lt Col Vindman is the director of European affairs on the White House’s National Security Council. He was the first serving White House official to give evidence, and arrived for the private hearing in full military uniform.
The soldier and diplomat said: “I was concerned by the [July 25] call. I did not think it was proper to demand that a foreign government investigate a US citizen, and I was worried about the implications for the US government’s
‘I am a patriot, and it is my sacred duty and honour to advance and defend our country’
support of Ukraine.” He told the inquiry that Mr Trump’s approach had been a “partisan play” and “would undermine US national security”.
Democrats have argued that, in the phone call, Mr Trump offered a “quid pro quo” to the Ukrainian leader – investigate Mr Biden for alleged corruption and the US would release $400 million (£311 million) in military aid to Ukraine. Mr Trump denies the accusation. As the witness was giving evidence Mr Trump called him a “Never Trumper”. The president wrote on Twitter: “Why are people that I never even heard of testifying about the call. Was he on the same call that I was? Can’t be possible!”
Lt Col Vindman was himself born in Ukraine, arriving in the US aged three. Some of Mr Trump’s allies questioned his loyalties, but senior Republicans called it “shameful” to doubt the patriotism of a decorated US soldier.
In his written opening statement he told the impeachment inquiry: “I am a patriot, and it is my sacred duty and honour to advance and defend our country, irrespective of party or politics.”
His evidence came a day after Nancy Pelosi, the Democrat Speaker of the House, said there would be a vote on Thursday to formalise procedures for the impeachment investigation, which could include televised hearings.