As soon as Donald Trump is acquitted, he pulls out a counter-strike: two key witnesses from the Ukraine affair lose their posts – one was escorted by security officers from the White House.
Donald Trump did not let much time pass: 48 hours after his acquittal by the US Senate, the President removed two of the key witnesses from the impeachment process from their posts.
It was announced late Friday evening (local time) that Trump is recalling the American ambassador to the EU, Gordon Sondland. He was one of the most important witnesses in the impeachment proceedings against Trump and had also accused other government officials such as Vice President Mike Pence or Secretary of State Mike Pompeo of being part of the competition.
Trump had recently fired security expert Alexander Vindham, who was the key witness in the Ukraine affair.
Escorted by security forces
Vindman, Ukraine expert on the National Security Council, was escorted by White House security officials on Friday, according to his lawyer. Last year, he found a phone call between Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Selenskyj as “inappropriate” and communicated his concerns to the National Security Council lawyer.
Vindman’s twin brother, who also worked in the National Security Council, was also removed from his post in parallel.
Because of this telephone call with Selenskyj, the Democrats had initiated impeachment proceedings against Trump, which the Republicans crushed on Wednesday with a majority in the Senate. Trump was acquitted on both charges of abuse of power and Congress’ disability. But he has the flaw that he is the third US president in history to be indicted by the House of Representatives.
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During the phone call on July 25, Trump urged the Ukrainian head of state to investigate former US Vice President Joe Biden. Biden is running for the Democratic presidential candidacy and could become Trump’s challenger in the November election.
“Everyone knew”
Sondland’s statement in the impeachment process confirmed that Selensky’s reception at the White House and, presumably, the payment of military aid to Kiev were made dependent on the announcement of Ukrainian investigations into Biden and the Democrats.
(HERE you can see our analysis of what Vindman, and HERE read about the performance of Sondland.)
He received his post in Brussels after sponsoring Trump’s inauguration with a $ 1 million donation. Although Ukraine was not in his portfolio, he was one of the central figures in urging Selenskyj to investigate. Sondland testified in November that he had “explicitly ordered” Trump to do so. “Everyone knew.”
Since Wednesday, Trump has repeatedly violently attacked those who have spoken out in favor of his conviction, including his party friend Mitt Romney, who was the only Republican to vote against an acquittal.
Washington observers believe Trump will punish other officials and political opponents after his acquittal. As head of the executive, he has the right to transfer or fire government officials.
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