Vindman marks 1 year since call that led to Trump’s impeachment

Former National Security Council (NSC) member Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman on Saturday marked the one-year anniversary of President Trump’s call with the Ukrainian president that was at the center of the House impeachment effort.

“One year since The Call. Much has changed for me and so much more has changed for our country. I rest well knowing I did my duty,” Vindman tweeted.

One year since The Call. Much has changed for me and so much more has changed for our country. I rest well knowing I did my duty. #readthetranscript #values #hererightmatters

— Alexander S. Vindman (@AVindman) July 25, 2020

Vindman, who earned a Purple Heart for his service in the Iraq War in 2004, worked as the NSC’s top Ukraine expert and testified before House impeachment investigators during their probe into Trump last year.

He told investigators about Trump’s now highly publicized July 25, 2019, phone call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, saying he overheard Trump ask Kyiv for investigations into 2016 election interference and former Vice President Joe Biden, his political opponent.

Vindman testified publicly and privately about his concerns regarding Trump’s phone call, describing it as “improper.”

Trump has long defended the call, describing it as “perfect” despite it being a central component of House Democrats’ probe that ended with a vote to impeach him.

A whistleblower alleged that Trump used his official position to solicit foreign help in the U.S. presidential election, with a complaint including details that lined up with a partial transcript of the call released by the White House.

Vindman was escorted from the White House in February and told to leave his position on the National Security Council following his testimony about the president’s phone call.

Earlier this month, Vindman retired from the Army after serving for more than two decades, with his attorney David Pressman saying, “It has been made clear that his future within the institution he has dutifully served will forever be limited.”

The Washington Post reported last month that some officials had voiced concerns that Vindman’s promotion to full colonel was in jeopardy because of his actions during the impeachment inquiry.

NBC News reported earlier this month that White House officials claimed Vindman created a hostile work environment, with the NSC sending a list of the claims to the Pentagon in late 2019.

Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), who had put a hold on some military confirmations, said this month that the Defense Department had confirmed to her that “Vindman had earned and was set to receive a promotion to Colonel.”