Top aides call Donald Trump's Ukraine phone call 'improper' and 'unusual' during impeachment hearing

One top aide called the call 'improper'
AP
Luke O'Reilly19 November 2019
WEST END FINAL

Get our award-winning daily news email featuring exclusive stories, opinion and expert analysis

I would like to be emailed about offers, event and updates from Evening Standard. Read our privacy notice.

One top national security aide who listened to Donald Trump's call with Ukraine's president called it "improper" while another said it was "unusual" during today's impeachment hearing.

The two gave evidence at Tuesday's impeachment hearings as the inquiry reached deeper into the White House.

Lieutenant Colonel Alexander Vindman, an army officer at the National Security Council, and Jennifer Williams, his counterpart at Vice President Mike Pence's office, said they had concerns about the phone call.

"What I heard was inappropriate," Lt Col Vindman told politicians.

Ms Williams said: "I found the July 25 phone call unusual because, in contrast to other presidential calls I had observed, it involved discussion of what appeared to be a domestic political matter."

Jenifer Williams appears at the hearing
AP

Lt Col Vindman, a 20-year military officer, arrived at Capitol Hill in military blue with a chest full of service medals, and said he reported his concerns "out of a sense of duty".

He did so, he said, "because they had significant national security implications for our country".

An immigrant, who arrived in the US as a toddler from Ukraine, Lt Col Vindman told the panel he was grateful his father brought the family to the US 40 years ago and for "the privilege of being an American citizen and public servant, where I can live free of fear for mine and my family's safety".

In the audience was his twin brother, also an official at the National Security Council and among those he told about his concerns over Mr Trump's phone call.

Addressing his late father, he said: "Do not worry, I will be fine for telling the truth."

In all, nine current and former US officials are giving evidence as the House's impeachment inquiry accelerates.

Democrats say Mr Trump's pressure on Ukraine to investigate his Democratic rivals as he withheld US military aid Ukraine needed to resist Russian aggression may be grounds for removing the 45th president.

Mr Trump says he did no such thing and the Democrats just want him gone.​

Create a FREE account to continue reading

eros

Registration is a free and easy way to support our journalism.

Join our community where you can: comment on stories; sign up to newsletters; enter competitions and access content on our app.

Your email address

Must be at least 6 characters, include an upper and lower case character and a number

You must be at least 18 years old to create an account

* Required fields

Already have an account? SIGN IN

By clicking Create Account you confirm that your data has been entered correctly and you have read and agree to our Terms of use , Cookie policy and Privacy policy .

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged in