Iran Press/America: US President Donald Trump wasted little time on Friday opening a campaign of retribution against those he blames for his impeachment, firing two of the most prominent witnesses in the House inquiry against him barely 48 hours after being acquitted by the Senate.
Emboldened by his victory and determined to strike back, Trump recalled Gordon D. Sondland, from his post as the ambassador to the European Union and on the same day, ordered col. Alexander S. Vindman a decorated Iraq war veteran on the National Security Council staff marched out of the White House by security guards, CNN reported.
According to this report, Sondland is the founder of a hotel chain who donated $1 million to the president’s inaugural committee. Sondland and Colonel Vindman were two of the most crucial witnesses in the House impeachment hearings.
Other impeachment witnesses have left with less drama in recent weeks. Marie L. Yovanovitch, the ambassador to Ukraine who was recalled from her post last spring because she was seen as an obstacle to the president’s plans, retired last month from the foreign service.
William B. Taylor Jr., who replaced her in an acting capacity, was essentially brought back early as well. And Jennifer Williams, a career official detailed to Vice President Mike Pence’s office, quietly left recently to return to the Defense Department.
After five months of hearings, investigations, and revelations about Trump’s dealings with Ukraine, a divided United States Senate acquitted him on Wednesday of charges that he abused his power and obstructed Congress to aid his own re-election, bringing an acrimonious impeachment trial to its expected end. 101/211/207
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