'He's a patriot': Republicans defend key impeachment witness from attacks

Republicans might quibble with the substance of Lt. Colonel Alexander Vindman’s testimony as they attempt to shield President Donald Trump from the fast-moving impeachment inquiry. But congressional GOP leaders say it’s out of bounds to assault Vindman’s patriotism and allegiance to america, as some conservative pundits did on Monday night time.

A pair of high-ranking Republicans on Tuesday made emphatic statements in defense of Vindman, a National Security Council official who heard Trump’s telephone name with the Ukrainian president and testified that it was improper for the president to demand an investigation into Joe Biden and a menace to U.S. nationwide security.

“That guy’s a Purple Heart. I feel it will be a mistake to assault his credibility,” stated South Dakota Sen. John Thune, the No. 2 Senate Republican, in an interview. “You possibly can clearly take difficulty with the substance and there are totally different interpretations about all that stuff. But I wouldn’t go after him personally. He’s a patriot.”

Rep. Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.), one of the hawkish Republicans in the House and a member of the House Armed Providers Committee, stated it will be “shameful” to query Vindman’s loyalty or patriotism to the country.

Cheney wasn’t even pressed by reporters on the topic; in her opening remarks during a weekly management information conference in the Capitol, she went out of her strategy to decry the assaults on Vindman, including the outlandish principle that he was a potential spy working towards america.

“We need to present that we are higher than that as a nation,” stated Cheney, the third-ranking Home Republican. “We’re talking about adorned veterans who've served this nation, who put their lives on the road. And it is shameful to query their patriotism, their love of this nation, and we shouldn't be involved on this course of.”

Former Rep. Sean Duffy (R-Wis.) stated on CNN that Vindman seems “extremely involved about Ukrainian defense. I don’t know that he’s concerned about American policy,” adding that Vindman’s “affinity” may be for Ukraine not the United States.

Former George W. Bush administration official John Yoo steered Vindman participated in “espionage” after Fox News’s Lauran Ingraham advised that Vindman was “advising Ukraine while working contained in the White Home apparently towards the president’s interest.”

But whilst GOP lawmakers dismiss or sidestep such rhetoric, Republicans are usually not ready to endorse Vindman’s testimony, which Democrats are touting as explosive.

House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) stated he is grateful for Vindman’s service to the country, however argued that the White Home official's model of events is “fallacious.” And Sen. Rob Portman (R-Ohio) stated Vindman is “talking concerning the name we already find out about. So we will make our personal judgment.”

Home Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) stated Vindman’s model of events is “flawed,” and Sen. Rob Portman (R-Ohio) stated Vindman is “speaking concerning the name we already find out about. So we will make our personal judgment.”

“I don’t actually understand what the large hooplah is about this,” stated Portman.

Home Democrats are investigating whether or not Trump withheld overseas assist to Ukraine until the country opened a probe into the Biden family.

Vindman, who confirmed up to Capitol Hill on Tuesday in his Army uniform, informed House impeachment investigators that he thought Trump undermined nationwide security together with his Ukraine strain campaign and twice reported those considerations. He also plans to again up his account by referencing his army service, which incorporates being wounded in an IED assault in Iraq and receiving a Purple Heart.

A key a part of the GOP’s impeachment defense strategy has centered on undermining the credibility of the whistleblower who first brought the Ukraine episode to mild, in addition to other witnesses which were interviewed within the probe. Vindman is the first witness to be on the call between Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, and so can't be discounted as easily.

Few Republicans on Capitol Hill are taking such a tack with Vindman — even if Trump is trashing him as a “Never Trumper.”

“Supposedly, in accordance with the Corrupt Media, the Ukraine call ‘concerned’ at this time’s Never Trumper witness. Was he on the identical call that I used to be? Can’t be attainable! Please ask him to read the Transcript of the call. Witch Hunt!” Trump tweeted Tuesday morning.

“What number of extra Never Trumpers will probably be allowed to testify about a wonderfully applicable telephone call when all anybody has to do is READ THE TRANSCRIPT!” the president added. “I knew individuals have been listening in on the decision (why would I say one thing inappropriate?), which was effective with me, but why so many?”

Marianne Levine contributed to this report.

Article originally revealed on POLITICO Magazine

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