The U.S. Army has placed Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman and his family under 24-hour security monitoring after the key Ukraine expert on the National Security Council gave a less-than-favorable account of President Donald Trump’s Ukraine dealings. Those dealings, specifically Trump’s July call to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky requesting an investigation into Democratic political opponents, are at the center of the impeachment probe into the president.
"The Army is providing supportive assistance to help Lt. Col. Vindman with the public attention," Col. Kathy Turner, an Army spokeswoman, said in a media statement Tuesday. "As a matter of practice, the Army would neither confirm nor deny any safety or security measures taken on behalf of an individual; however, as we would with any Soldier, the Army will work with civilian authorities to ensure that he and his family are properly protected."
Vindman listened in on Trump’s controversial call with Zelensky, and he testified during the House impeachment hearing Tuesday that the U.S. president’s ask for Zelensky to look into Joe Biden and his son was “inappropriate and improper.”
The White House apparently didn’t appreciate the decorated Iraq War veteran’s account of what happened, and, as is often the president’s knee-jerk reaction to unfavorable news, a certain top government official took to Twitter from the official White House account.
"Tim Morrison, Alexander Vindman's former boss, testified in his deposition that he had concerns about Vindman's judgment," the official tweeted Tuesday. That tweet was one of several efforts the White House launched to discredit those even approaching disparaging remarks about Trump.
Vindman, however, seemed to be less worried about the threat of retaliation at the start of his hearing. He said in an opening statement addressing his father, who immigrated to the United States, "Dad, I'm sitting here today in the U.S. Capitol, talking to our elected professionals, talking to our elected professionals 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."