2/7/2020

IMPEACHMENT/TRUMP AS PRESIDENT/WHITE HOSUE STAFF: “The purge of impeachment witnesses has begun. Within hours of each other, President Donald Trump and the White House removed two of the most crucial witnesses against the president in the investigation that led to his impeachment for abuse of power. Late Friday [2-7-20], news emerged that Trump had ordered the recall of Gordon Sondland, the U.S. Ambassador to the European Union — ‘effective immediately,’ the ambassador noted in a statement. Hours earlier, the White House escorted out Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman, the top Ukraine policy officer on the National Security Counsel — along with his twin brother Yevgeny, who was not an impeachment witness. The succession of personnel moves came amid a promise of ‘payback’ by White House officials against those who testified or played a role in the impeachment of the president.”

Kyle Cheney, Natasha Bertrand and Meredith McGraw, “Impeachment witnesses ousted amid fears of Trump revenge campaign,” Politico, February 7, 2020 1:00 pm