Army Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman, a member of the National Security Council, center, arrives on Capitol Hill in Washington on Oct. 29.
Manuel Balce Ceneta/AP
Two Republican senators are speaking out to defend Army Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman, the National Security Council’s top Ukraine expert, against attacks about his patriotism by fellow lawmakers.
Vindman, a Purple Heart recipient, faced criticism today when he appeared today for his deposition before lawmakers conducting the impeachment inquiry into President Trump.
Sen. Mitt Romney called the attacks “very unfortunate.”
“I think that is misplaced, very unfortunate. This man is a decorated American serviceman and I have full confidence in him as an individual and his patriotism,” the Utah Republican said.
Sen. John Thune, a Republican from South Dakota, said “it would be mistake to attack” Vindman’s patriotism.
“I don’t at all question his patriotism. I respect his service. He’s a Purple Heart and I think it would be mistake to attack his patriotism,” the senator said.
Vindman served multiple overseas tours as a US infantry officer, including a deployment to Iraq where he received the Purple Heart after being wounded in an IED attack. He has served in Trump’s National Security Council since 2018.
About the criticism: Speaking about Vindman, former GOP Rep. Sean Duffy said: “It seems very clear that he is incredibly concerned about Ukrainian defense.”
Trump also joined in the criticism of Vindman, claiming without evidence on Twitter that the White House’s top Ukraine expert is a “Never Trumper.”