Donald Trump impeachment fallout: 2 witnesses ousted

New York: In the post-impeachment reverberations, an Army officer and Washington’s top envoy to the European Union (EU) who testified against US President Donald Trump, have been removed from their positions.

In developments following his acquittal by the Senate, Trump on Friday demanded that the House of Representatives expunge his impeachment because it was a “total political hoax”.

Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman, who was a Ukraine expert on the National Security Council (NSC), was escorted out of the White House on Friday. An Army spokesperson said he was being transferred.

Gordon Sondland, the Ambassador to the EU, said he was told that Trump “intends to recall me effective immediately”. That would amount to a dismissal.

Earlier, Republican senators started the process of investigating the son of former Vice President Joe Biden, Hunter, whose dealings in Ukraine were behind the impeachment.

And preparing for a second round, House of Representatives Judiciary Committee Chair Jerry Nadler has said that former National Security Adviser John Bolton is likely to be called to testify.

An Army spokesperson said that Vindman and his twin brother, Yevegny Vindman, who was also with the NSC, have “been reassigned to the Department of the Army”. Trump told reporters earlier that he was “not happy” with what Alexander Vindman did.

Alexander Vindman was hailed at the Democratic presidential debate as a hero for daring to defy Trump and testify.

At Joe Biden’s request, the audience gave Vindman a standing ovation.

While Alexander Vindman is a wounded veteran of the Iraq War, his brother, also a lieutenant colonel, is an Army lawyer. The twins’ assignments to the White House was to end in July, but they will continue at their rank in the military on other assignments. (IANS)

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