NEW: Vindman was instructed not to debrief Trump on Zelensky's inauguration b/c Trump’s advisers were worried it might confuse him—Nunes ally Kash Patel had "misrepresented" himself as NSC's Ukraine expert, despite no relevant experience, Vindman testified politi.co/31YAH5v
We previously reported that Hill testified that Trump thought Patel was in charge of Ukraine policy for the NSC, but Vindman’s exclusion from a key Ukraine meeting because of concerns over a potential conflict with Trump has not been disclosed before. politico.com/news/2019/10/3…
Vindman’s exclusion sheds even more light on the unusual steps top NSC officials were taking as early as May to avoid angering or annoying Trump on Ukraine issues.
“It’s crazy,” said one person familiar with Vindman’s testimony. “Vindman should have been in that meeting.”
“It’s crazy,” said one person familiar with Vindman’s testimony. “Vindman should have been in that meeting.”
Vindman had intended to convey in that debriefing that Zelensky's election was a positive development, per source familiar with his thinking. In his opening statement Vindman said Zelensky's promise of reforms "would allow Ukraine to realize its dream of a vibrant democracy."
