Army Isn't Investigating Lt. Col. Vindman, Despite Trump's Tweets
Source: daily beast
PROFILES IN COURAGE
But that could change in a hurry. Retired officers tell The Beast that the officer who testified about Trumps attempts to pressure Ukraine isnt out of professional danger yet.
Updated Feb. 12, 2020 4:43PM ET / Published Feb. 12, 2020 4:30PM ET
The Army officer and former National Security Council staffer who testified in the impeachment inquiry is not under Army investigation, a knowledgeable Defense Department official told The Daily Beast.
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Ever since Vindman was escorted out of the White House on Friday, along with his twin brother, there has been intense speculation over the future of his military career. Vindman has returned to the Department of the Army.
Vindman infuriated President Trump by testifying that the pressure he witnessed on Ukraine to aid the presidents reelection was inappropriate. After the Senate Republicans acquitted Trump in the impeachment trial, Trump has focused on retribution against his perceived enemies within the national-security apparatus. On Tuesday, Trump encouraged the military to discipline Vindman, saying the military can handle him. Thats going to be up to the military, well have to see, but if you look at what happened, theyre going to certainly, I would imagine, take a look at that, Trump said.
For now, theyre not. The Defense official said the Army was not investigating Vindmanan indication that, thus far, the Army does not see Vindman as committing a professional infraction by testifying to the inquiry.
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Read more: https://www.thedailybeast.com/army-isnt-investigating-lt-col-alexander-vindman-despite-trumps-tweets
Vindictive Trump will go after him. yes. he. will. IMHO
maxsolomon
(32,984 posts)Right now the Military feels like the last bastion of ethics in the Federal Government.
Which is pitiful.
RockRaven
(14,782 posts)he WILL make a non-tweet order.
This sort of thing has happened before: He says "I'm doing X." Nobody does anything. Media reports nobody is doing X. Trump has a tantrum and orders people to do X. People do X.
Thomas Hurt
(13,903 posts)in the amoral pig's mind.
KatyBR
(183 posts)He never wrote a newspaper, he never talked to reporters, he just responded to a legal subpoena from the House of Representatives. That is not illegal. Trump is trying to create a counter-narrative in the media.
fierywoman
(7,641 posts)Karadeniz
(22,270 posts)TomSlick
(11,033 posts)If LTC Vindman had committed a UCMJ violation - which, of course he did not - Dear Leader's comments would prevent any prosecution under the unlawful command influence rules. I was involved in unlawful command influence cases as an Army appellate defense attorney. Army military judges - who don't answer to Trump - take the prohibition against unlawful command influence very seriously. My prediction is that the Army will ignore Trump's tweets.
However, I do have a concern. The promotion to Colonel is the first promotion that requires Senate approval. The Senate consideration is usually done by the entire promotion list. I can see a GOP controlled Senate holding up the entire promotion list unless LTC Vindman is removed from the list.