Lt. Col Alexander Vindman Announces Retirement from Army

Ukraine impeachment hoax figure Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman announced via Twitter Wednesday he is putting in for retirement from the Army. Vindman was up for promotion to full colonel this year but there were questions about whether he would indeed be promoted given the controversy over his tenure at the White House National Security Council. After President Trump was acquitted in his impeachment trial in February, Vindman and his twin brother Lt. Col. Yevgeny Vindman were both fired from the NSC.

Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) had recently placed a hold on promotions of colonels and generals until she received assurances from Secretary of Defense Mark Esper that Vindman would be promoted.

“Today I officially requested retirement from the US Army, an organization I love. My family and I look forward to the next chapter of our lives.”

Vindman’s attorney David Pressman expounded on Vindman’s decision to the media.

CNN

“The President of the United States attempted to force LTC Vindman to choose: Between adhering to the law or pleasing a President. Between honoring his oath or protecting his career. Between protecting his promotion or the promotion of his fellow soldiers,” Pressman said in a statement to CNN.

“These are choices that no one in the United States should confront, especially one who has dedicated his life to serving it,” he added, noting that Vindman “did what the law compelled him to do; and for that he was bullied by the President and his proxies.”

CBS:

Through a campaign of bullying, intimidation, and retaliation, the President of the United States attempted to force LTC Vindman to choose: Between adhering to the law or pleasing a President. Between honoring his oath or protecting his career. Between protecting his promotion or the promotion of his fellow soldiers,” Pressman said in a statement.

“LTC Vindman did what the law compelled him to do; and for that he was bullied by the President and his proxies. And yet, LTC Vindman would not be intimidated and will not be corrupted. He did what he has always done: put the interests of his country ahead of his own,” Pressman said. “LTC Vindman’s patriotism has cost him his career. Today our country loses a devoted soldier, but it is incumbent upon all of us to ensure it does not lose the values he represents.”

Vindman earned a Purple Heart medal as a result of injuries in an IED attack in Iraq in 2004.

UPDATE: Politico reported Wednesday afternoon that Vindman’s promotion was approved by SecDef Esper on Monday:

…At the White House’s request, the Department of Defense inspector general opened a preliminary inquiry into “allegations of inappropriate behavior” against Vindman, said one U.S. official familiar with the discussions. But after quickly completing the inquiry, the IG found no substantiated claims, and no reason to hold up his promotion, the official said.

Following the inquiry, Army Secretary Ryan McCarthy recommended Vindman be promoted to colonel, the official said. McCarthy included Vindman’s name in a list of officers recommended for promotion he submitted to the office of the secretary of defense on Thursday, according to a senior defense official.

On Monday, Defense Secretary Mark Esper signed off on Vindman’s promotion, along with the other officers on the list, the senior defense official said. The list was slated to be submitted to the White House for approval at the end of the week…

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