Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman testified on Tuesday that the Ukrainian government repeatedly asked him to work for their government as Ukraine’s defense minister, which prompted questions from House Republicans during his testimony in front of the Intelligence Committee.
During his testimony, Vindman said that “it would have been a ‘great honor’ to serve in the position” but that his loyalties lay with the United States, which he immigrated to as a refugee when he was a child.
Here is the exchange:
GOP Counsel Steve Castor: You went to Ukraine for the inauguration.
Vindman: Correct.
Castor: At any point in that trip, did [Ukrainian Defense Council Oleksandr] Danylyuk offer you a position of defense minister with the Ukrainian government?
Vindman: He did.
Castor: How many times did he do that?
Vindman: I believe it was three times.
Vindman went on to claim that “every single time, I dismissed it,” adding that “upon returning, I notified my chain of command and the appropriate counterintelligence folks about this offer.”
“I did not leave the door open at all, but it is pretty funny, for a lieutenant colonel of the U.S. Army, which really is not that senior, to be offered that illustrious of a position,” Vindman continued.
WATCH:
Lt. Col Vindman says that Ukraine repeatedly offered him to be the Minister of Defense for Ukraine. pic.twitter.com/NBr1Z0nPNU
— Ryan Saavedra (@RealSaavedra) November 19, 2019
Federalist writer Erielle Davidson tweeted: “Why did Ukraine ask Vindman to be their Defense Minister *three times*?”
Hudson Institute Senior Felloe Rebeccah Heinrichs responded: “One time is a scandal because I assume they’d only ask if they thought there was a good chance he’d say yes. Three?? What the heck was he saying to/doing for them?”
One time is a scandal because I assume they’d only ask if they thought there was a good chance he’d say yes. Three?? What the heck was he saying to/doing for them?
— Rebeccah Heinrichs (@RLHeinrichs) November 19, 2019
Federalist co-founder Sean Davis commented: “If Russia had asked Michael Flynn three separate times to be Minister of Defense at the Kremlin, Democrats and media would have immediately held a field trial, summarily convicted Flynn, and offed him for treason. Yet media are pretending this is NBD.”
If Russia had asked Michael Flynn three separate times to be Minister of Defense at the Kremlin, Democrats and media would have immediately held a field trial, summarily convicted Flynn, and offed him for treason. Yet media are pretending this is NBD. https://t.co/MnQfQmhkMs
— Sean Davis (@seanmdav) November 19, 2019
Political commentator Mollie Hemingway noted that “one would be forgiven for hoping Americans not be viewed by other countries’ as particularly great prospects to be their defense minister.”
Agreed, but also one would be forgiven for hoping Americans not be viewed by other countries' as particularly great prospects to be their defense minister. https://t.co/YWFVEmoeeA
— Mollie (@MZHemingway) November 19, 2019
Laura Ingraham wrote: “Why would Ukraine offer the post of defense minister to an U.S. gov’t official working in their region? What does that reveal, if anything, about how Ukraine perceived him?”
Why would Ukraine offer the post of defense minister to an U.S. gov’t official working in their region? What does that reveal, if anything, about how Ukraine perceived him?
— Laura Ingraham (@IngrahamAngle) November 19, 2019
Sharyl Attkisson tweeted: “I don’t blame Lt. Col. Vindman — but it’s worth asking why Ukraine wd offer this U.S. National Security Council official position as Ukraine’s Defense Minister?? Obviously, Vindman has US interests first. Why would Ukraine think he’d want to serve their foreign administration?”
I don't blame Lt. Col. Vindman — but it's worth asking why Ukraine wd offer this U.S. National Security Council official position as Ukraine's Defense Minister?? Obviously, Vindman has US interests first. Why would Ukraine think he'd want to serve their foreign administration?
— Sharyl Attkisson🕵️♂️ (@SharylAttkisson) November 19, 2019
Rita Panahi commented on a tweet that highlighted the fact that Vindman was not interested in learning more about Hunter Biden’s involvement with an alleged corrupt company, writing: “No wonder the Ukrainians wanted him to be *their* Defense Minister. Diabolical.”
No wonder the Ukrainians wanted him to be *their* Defense Minister. Diabolical. #VindmanTestimony https://t.co/ksd0xwqhIP
— Rita Panahi (@RitaPanahi) November 19, 2019