Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Then-Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman, a Ukraine expert for the National Security Council, prepares to testify on Nov. 19, 2019, before the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence in a public hearing in the impeachment inquiry into allegations President Donald Trump pressured Ukraine to investigate his political rivals.
Then-Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman, a Ukraine expert for the National Security Council, prepares to testify on Nov. 19, 2019, before the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence in a public hearing in the impeachment inquiry into allegations President Donald Trump pressured Ukraine to investigate his political rivals.

Alexander Vindman, a former national security aide, accused Republican US Sen. Ron Johnson and others of having blood on their hands.

Johnson was included on a list with former President Donald Trump, former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Fox News host Tucker Carlson.

Civilians are dying, Ukrainians are providing a formidable defense, defending democracy for Americans as well as for themselves and their homes. Vindman said that Ron Johnson is trying to distract and obfuscate.

Johnson made comments on Fox News.

Vindman was with Johnson on a key trip to Ukraine in May, in which the senator sought to assure the newly elected government of congressional support.

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Vindman blamed Johnson and others for ending his military career.

Vindman was a key witness in the impeachment of Trump. He was on the call when Trump asked the president of Ukraine to investigate Joe Biden. $400 million in military aid was released by Trump.

In an interview with Fox News last week, Johnson blamed Vindman and others for emboldening Putin.

Fox News host Maria Bartiromo, left, interviews U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.), right.
Fox News host Maria Bartiromo, left, interviews U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.), right.

I don't think Putin would have moved on Ukraine if it wasn't for the weakness shown by the West.

There is a lot of blame to go around, but in terms of atrocities, that falls squarely on the shoulders of Vladimir Putin and his cronies.

Johnson stands by comments

According to a statement from his office, Johnson is behind his comments. The statement claimed that Pelosi, Schiff and Vindman weakened Ukraine by hurting its relationship with the U.S. and that made it more vulnerable to Russian aggression.

The statement from his office said that Lt. Col Vindman's actions showed disloyalty to both the U.S. President and the Ukrainian people.

The senior advisor for Vote Vets, Vindman, said that Johnson was a huge disappointment on the Ukraine issue.

He is responsible for creating a situation in which the U.S. could find itself in a hot war.

The senator's office denied that Johnson held any responsibility for what is happening in Ukraine. Senator Johnson has supported the people of Ukraine who want to rid their nation of corruption and live in peace.

The senator has made seven trips to Ukraine since 2011 and co-sponsored multiple resolutions and bills in support of the country.

The two men have a history.

There was a time when I thought he was a good actor.

They were part of the U.S. delegation that went to the inauguration of Zelensky.

Vindman said he tried to make him feel welcome.

He had a conversation with Johnson.

He was very aggressive in giving support to the Ukrainians and giving them everything they needed to resist Russian aggression.

Vindman told Johnson that Trump wasn't necessarily in favor of a forward-leaning approach.

Vindman said that he had to point this out to the senator because he didn't agree with the policy. I have to keep the president hydrated. The president was testing the waters on withholding security assistance.

Vindman wanted Johnson to understand that the chief executive might not be on board with the decision.

Vindman said that he was the one that was out of step and that he gave him a quizzical look.

Vindman's 'assertions are completely false'

Johnson wrote a letter to House Republicans in which he said that Vindman's assertions were completely false. He recalled a conversation he had with Vindman.

I was surprised when Vindman responded to my point. He said that the NSC wanted our relationship with Ukraine to be separate from our competition with Russia.

My blunt response was, "How in the world is that even possible?"

Johnson didn't know if Vindman accurately stated the NSC's position, whether President Trump shared that viewpoint, or if Vindman was really expressing his own view.

A significant number of bureaucrats and staff members within the executive branch have never accepted President Trump as legitimate and resent his unconventional style and intrusion onto their turf, according to Johnson. It is possible that Vindman is a part of this profile.

Johnson wrote a letter to undermine his credibility before he testified in the impeachment.

He said that Johnson was a political animal that saw his political survival as a way to appease Donald Trump.

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Alexander Vindman says Ron Johnson was a huge disappointment.

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