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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsWhy Vindman's Trump White House lawsuit is such a courageous moment
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Vindman alleges that following his testimony, a group of people inside the Trump White House and in the former presidents inner circle, including Trump himself and at least one member of the media, conspired to prevent him from and then punish him for testifying. Stories were spread across news and social media outlets that Vindman was a spy for Ukraine and that he was not loyal to the United States. Vindman alleges in the lawsuit that the conspiracy effectively ended his military career.
It would be bad enough if this case was about a president using the power of his office to intimidate one man. But its not. Other members of Vindmans family were targeted for harassment, including his wife and his brother, a lawyer at the NSC whose position was also compromised. Vindmans complaint alleges that the damage goes much further: The actions taken by Defendants against Lt. Col. Vindman sent a message to other potential witnesses as well: cooperate and tell the truth at your own peril.
That message seemed to hit home at the time of Trumps first impeachment. Some witnesses, like Marie Yovanovitch, the former U.S. ambassador to Ukraine, did come forward. But many others didnt, including Trumps man in Kyiv, Rudy Giuliani, national security adviser John Bolton, Vice President Mike Pence, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and acting White House Chief of Staff Mick Mulvaney. They delayed, using sometimes dubious assertions of privilege that prevented them from testifying before the proceedings ended.
Vindmans lawsuit alleges that the chilling effect of his treatment didnt stop with Trumps impeachment trials: Witnesses subpoenaed by Congress in connection with its investigation into the events of January 6, 2021, continue to heed former President Trumps instructions to defy those subpoenas, undermining Congresss constitutional oversight role and the fundamental principle of checks and balances between three co-equal branches of government. The allegation is both stunning that a president would undermine the rule of law in such a serious and pervasive manner and unsurprising, at least for anyone who paid attention during Trumps time in office.
It would be bad enough if this case was about a president using the power of his office to intimidate one man. But its not. Other members of Vindmans family were targeted for harassment, including his wife and his brother, a lawyer at the NSC whose position was also compromised. Vindmans complaint alleges that the damage goes much further: The actions taken by Defendants against Lt. Col. Vindman sent a message to other potential witnesses as well: cooperate and tell the truth at your own peril.
That message seemed to hit home at the time of Trumps first impeachment. Some witnesses, like Marie Yovanovitch, the former U.S. ambassador to Ukraine, did come forward. But many others didnt, including Trumps man in Kyiv, Rudy Giuliani, national security adviser John Bolton, Vice President Mike Pence, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and acting White House Chief of Staff Mick Mulvaney. They delayed, using sometimes dubious assertions of privilege that prevented them from testifying before the proceedings ended.
Vindmans lawsuit alleges that the chilling effect of his treatment didnt stop with Trumps impeachment trials: Witnesses subpoenaed by Congress in connection with its investigation into the events of January 6, 2021, continue to heed former President Trumps instructions to defy those subpoenas, undermining Congresss constitutional oversight role and the fundamental principle of checks and balances between three co-equal branches of government. The allegation is both stunning that a president would undermine the rule of law in such a serious and pervasive manner and unsurprising, at least for anyone who paid attention during Trumps time in office.
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Why Vindman's Trump White House lawsuit is such a courageous moment (Original Post)
LetMyPeopleVote
Feb 2022
OP
K and R..Could this lawsuit prove beyond doubt that Donald Trump broke the law?
Stuart G
Feb 2022
#6
niyad
(113,074 posts)1. "Here, right matters." May it be so.
Hekate
(90,559 posts)2. All the best to this courageous man
Cha
(296,848 posts)3. Rt TY I remember when this happened
we felt so helpless for AV and now he Can Fight Back!
eShirl
(18,479 posts)4. "...AND AT LEAST ONE MEMBER OF THE MEDIA..."
emphasis mine
elias7
(3,991 posts)5. Can't imagine who that might be (Hannity)...
Stuart G
(38,414 posts)6. K and R..Could this lawsuit prove beyond doubt that Donald Trump broke the law?
I don't know..This one could be............THE ONE THAT DOES IT...!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
.................(please note the word: could)..........