Re: [Political activist...] Alexander Vindman retires from Army, citing 'bullying' from Trump for impeachment testimony

On 7/12/20 12:03 AM, Leroy N. Soetoro wrote:
> https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2020/07/08/alexander-vindman-
> resigns-army-after-trump-impeachment-testimony/5397752002/
> 
> WASHINGTON – The Army officer who testified in President Donald Trump's 
> impeachment inquiry announced Wednesday that he will retire from the 
> military, citing intimidation from the White House.
> 
> Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman, an Iraq war veteran and Purple Heart 
> recipient, had seen his promotion to colonel delayed this summer,a hold-up 
> that some viewed as retaliation for his impeachment testimony.
> 
> Vindman testified last fall that he was alarmed by Trump’s July 25 call 
> with Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky, during which Trump asked the 
> Ukrainian leader to open investigations of former Vice President Joe Biden 
> and his son Hunter, who had business interests in the country. That 
> conversation triggered Trump's impeachment, and Vindman became a star 
> witness in the House Democrats' probe.
> 
> Vindman cited "bullying, intimidation and retaliation" by Trump in 
> explaining his decision to retire, according to a statement from his 
> lawyer David Pressman. 
> 
> "After more than 21 years of military service, Lieutenant Colonel 
> Alexander Vindman is retiring today after it has been made clear that his 
> future within the institution he has dutifully served will forever be 
> limited," Pressman said.  
> 
> "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."
> 
> He said Vindman chose to 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," the lawyer said. 
> 
> Sen. Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill., moved last week to block over 1,100 military 
> promotions until the Pentagon promised not to interfere in Vindman's 
> promotion to colonel. The Illinois Democrat, an Iraq War veteran who lost 
> both her legs after her helicopter was shot down in 2004, demanded that 
> Defense Secretary Mark Esper confirm "in writing that he did not, or will 
> not block" Vindman's "expected and deserved" promotion to colonel. 
> 
> In a statement released Wednesday, Duckworth slammed the Pentagon for not 
> acting to "protect a decorated combat Veteran against a vindictive 
> Commander in Chief."
> 
> Her office added she would keep the hold on promotions in place "until the 
> Secretary of Defense provides a transparent accounting of this disgraceful 
> situation."
> 
> Esper on Monday approved a list of officers for promotion to colonel that 
> included Vindman, according to a Defense official who was not authorized 
> to speak publicly about the issue. 
> 
> Esper and the Army’s approval of Vindman for promotion to colonel over 
> objection from the White House widens the rift between the military and 
> Trump.
> 
> Last month, Army Gen. Mark Milley expressed regret for having appeared 
> with Trump after mostly peaceful protesters had been forcibly removed from 
> his path to a photo opportunity outside the White House.
> 
> Esper appeared in the photo as well, and later expressed regret for 
> referring to American streets occupied by those demonstrating after the 
> death of George Floyd as “battle space” that needed to be dominated.
> 
> Esper’s remarks, Milley’s appearance and Trump’s confrontational approach 
> were roundly denounced by retired Pentagon officials, including former 
> Defense Secretary Jim Mattis. 
> 
> Rep. Adam Schiff, who led the impeachment probe as chairman of the House 
> Intelligence Committee, thanked Vindman for his service and said he "did 
> his duty and told the truth about presidential misconduct."
> 
> "Col. Vindman’s patriotism is incomprehensible to the likes of Donald 
> Trump, but it is at the heart of America’s strength," Schiff said in a 
> tweet Wednesday.
> 
> Vindman also won praise Wednesday from Trump's former national security 
> adviser John Bolton. 
> 
> "For Alex Vindman to retire from the military after it must have been 21, 
> 22 years now, is really a loss for the country," Bolton said on MSNBC. He 
> suggested Congress may examine Vindman's decision to retire.
> 
> Sen. Jack Reed, the top Democrat on the Senate Armed Services Committee, 
> said he hopes there is a "bipartisan effort" to look into Vindman's 
> departure from the Army.
> 
> “It certainly looks as if his career was a casualty of this President’s 
> partisan vendetta against truth tellers and whistleblowers," said Reed, of 
> Rhode Island.
> 
> "I’d like to believe that there is bipartisan concern about political 
> interference with the promotion process," he said. "We need answers 
> directly from Secretary Esper about what role, if any, the Trump 
> Administration played in this process."
> 
> Vindman was among several aides who listened to Trump’s July 25 call with 
> Zelensky.At the time, Vindman was a Ukraine expert serving on the National 
> Security Council, and during last fall's impeachment probe,he told 
> lawmakers that he viewed Trump's request to Ukraine as "improper."
> 
> “It was inappropriate,” Vindman said during his high-profile hearing last 
> fall. “It was improper for the president to request, to demand an 
> investigation into a political opponent, especially a foreign power where 
> there is at best dubious belief that this could be an impartial 
> investigation and that this would have significant implications if it 
> became public knowledge.”
> 
> After Trump's acquittal in the Senate impeachment trial, Vindman was 
> escorted from the White House by security guards. Trump had railed against 
> the officer on Twitter, calling him "insubordinate."
> 
> The Army had reassigned Vindman to a base outside Washington as he 
> prepared to attend the War College for officers being groomed for 
> promotion. His decision to resign was first reported by CNN.
> 
> Trump said Vindman would be subject to a military investigation after his 
> testimony, saying the officer “did a lot of bad things.”
> 
> But Pentagon officials maintained that Vindman would not face retribution 
> for his testimony about the phone call. In February, Army Secretary Ryan 
> McCarthy said Vindman was scheduled to complete his assignment in 
> Washington and head to War College in the fall.
> 
> “There is no investigation into him,” McCarthy said. 
> 
> The Army does not comment on personnel matters, spokeswoman Cynthia Smith 
> said Wednesday. 
> 
> Vindman confirmed his decision to retire in a Twitter post Wednesday but 
> did not elaborate on his decision.
> 
> "Today I officially requested retirement from the US Army, an organization 
> I love. My family and I look forward to the next chapter of our lives," he 
> wrote.
> 
> In his Nov. 19 testimony, Vindman said he realized he was taking a risk in 
> coming forward but believed he would be “fine” because of the protections 
> afforded in a democracy. He recalled his father’s decision to flee the 
> Soviet Union in search of a better life.  
> 
> “I am grateful for my father’s brave act of hope 40 years ago and for the 
> privilege of being an American citizen and public servant, where I can 
> live free of fear for mine and my family’s safety,” he told lawmakers. 
> “Dad, my sitting here today, in the U.S. Capitol talking to our elected 
> officials is proof that you made the right decision 40 years ago to leave 
> the Soviet Union and come here to the United States of America in search 
> of a better life for our family. Do not worry, I will be fine for telling 
> the truth."
> 
> You're a disgrace to the Officer Corps.  Swallow a bullet.
> 

Vindman OBVIOUSLY KNOWS TRUMP IS GOING TO WIN in 2020....  otherwise
he'd stay the last 4 months and wait for his Democrat pals to give him
his old JOB BACK and a promotion and an increase in pay and retirement.

The Writing on the wall, literally the MARXIST-DEMOCRATS painted it
everywhere, they hate America and want it destroyed and *Americans* may
have bad days but they don't want everything they know and have worked
for destroyed by the DEMOCRATS, so the DEMOCRATS have.... "in a bit of
POETIC JUSTICE" destroyed their own DEMOCRATIC PARTY.

What will the DEMOCRATIC PARTY, MORPH INTO NOW?




-- 
*That's Karma*

*Democrats aren't the PARTY of diversity they're the party of division*