It is "ridiculous" for Democrats such as Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer to claim that President Donald Trump retaliated against Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman and U.S. Ambassador to the European Union Gordon Sondland for their testimony during his impeachment hearings, presidential counselor Kellyanne Conway said Monday.
"This whole ridiculous word by Chuck Schumer in a letter today, 'retaliation' and 'the president is exacting revenge?" Conway told Fox News' "Fox and Friends." "Where?"
Vindman, a top on Ukraine for the National Security Council, was escorted off White House grounds on Friday, just days after the Senate acquitted Trump on two articles of impeachment. In addition, Sondland said on Friday Trump had recalled him from his position.
Vindman's twin brother, Lt. Col.Yevgeny Vindman, also has left the NSC.
The Vindman brothers remain employed, Conway pointed out Monday.
"In the case of the Vindman brothers, they are detailed here," said Conway. "They are employed today...they are working at the Army, (from) where they were detailed to the NSC."
It is "typical," she said, for someone who is detailed to the White House to return to their full-time job.
But in Sondland's case, "it was nice of the president to give him that post in the first place," said Conway, but in the end, "he wasn't there for the president."
Meanwhile, there are still people in the administration who are "probably holdovers" who don't believe in Trump's agenda, "but they should be really happy to be part of an administration where our national security and our economic security are robust," said Conway. "Many men and women are out there who would love to have these jobs. I always have my eye on them. I have a real soft spot in my heart for those willing to serve and are qualified to do so."
Sandy Fitzgerald ✉
Sandy Fitzgerald has more than three decades in journalism and serves as a general assignment writer for Newsmax covering news, media, and politics.
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