In a move that has been dubbed the White House ‘Friday Night
Massacre’ by political commentators, US President Donald Trump has
sacked EU Ambassador Gordon Sondland, National Security council member
Lt. Colonel Alexander Vindman and Vindman’s twin brother Yevgeny
Vindman, a National Security Council attorney for their involvements
during the impeachment inquiry, just days after he was acquitted by the
US Senate on charges of Abuse of office and Obstruction of congress.
War hero Lt. Colonel Alexander Vindman and his twin Yevgeny Vindman
were sacked and escorted from the White House on Friday while Sondland,
who is Ambassador to the EU, released a statement Friday night saying he
has been removed from his job ‘effective’ immediately’
All three men played major roles in the House of Reps impeachment
inquiry against Trump and it is expected that Senator Mitt Romney will
be Trump’s next target after he was the only Republican who voted to
remove the Commander-in-Chief from office during a Senate vote on
Wednesday.
Vindman’s attorney, David Pressman, released a statement about his client’s firing.
‘Today, Lieutenant Colonel Alexander Vindman was escorted out of the
White House where he has dutifully served his country and his
President’.
‘He does so having spoken publicly once, and only pursuant to a subpoena
from the United States Congress.’ ‘There is no question in the mind of
any American why this man’s job is over, why this country now has one
less soldier serving it at the White House,’
“LTC Vindman was asked to leave for telling the truth. His honour, his commitment to right, frightened the powerful.
“The truth has cost LTC Alexander Vindman his job, his career, and his privacy.
“The most powerful man in the world – buoyed by the silent, the pliable, and the complicit – has decided to exact revenge.”
Sondland also confirmed that he is being recalled from his post in a
statement he released on Friday February 7. His statement read;
”I was advised today that the president intends to recall me
effective immediately’.
‘I am grateful to President Trump for having given me the opportunity
to serve, to Secretary Pompeo for his consistent support, and to the
exceptional and dedicated professionals at the U.S. Mission to the
European Union.
‘I am proud of our accomplishments. Our work here has been the highlight of my career.’
Donald Trump’s son, Donald Trump Jr tweeted about the sack on Friday
night saying, ‘Allow me a moment to thank—and this may be a bit of a
surprise—Adam Schiff. Were it not for his crack investigation skills,
@realDonaldTrump might have had a tougher time unearthing who all needed
to be fired. Thanks, Adam #FullOfSchiff’.
Vindman who was awarded a Purple Heart for his service in Iraq after
being wounded in an IED attack and still carries shrapnel from the
attack in his body, was on the July 25 phone call between Trump and
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, and testifying in November
during the impeachment inquiry said;
‘I was concerned by the call. I did not think it was proper to demand
that a foreign government investigate a U.S. citizen, and I was worried
about the implications for the U.S. Government’s support of Ukraine. I
realized that if Ukraine pursued an investigation into the Bidens and
Burisma, it would likely be interpreted as a partisan play which would
undoubtedly result in Ukraine losing the bipartisan support it has thus
far maintained. This would all undermine U.S. national security,’ he
told House investigators.
Earlier on Friday, Trump admitted he was not happy with Vindman while speaking to reporters.
‘I’m not happy with him. Am I supposed to be happy with him? I’m not,’