What this hearing boils down to: Col. Vindman claimed to be alarmed at the 7/25 call because he felt the conversation was a "demand." It was not.
Read the call transcript. Note the phrases like "if that's possible," "if you can look into it," "whatever you can do."
Read the call transcript. Note the phrases like "if that's possible," "if you can look into it," "whatever you can do."
IN FACT: when Col. Vindman was pressed on his characterization of the call as a "demand" in his deposition (p. 256), this is what he said:
"I think people want to hear, you know, what they have as already preconceived notions... I guess you can interpret it in different ways."
"I think people want to hear, you know, what they have as already preconceived notions... I guess you can interpret it in different ways."
Here's the text of the deposition question and answer. Read it.
Bottom line: the pretext for this hearing is baseless. @realDonaldTrump didn't demand a thing.
Bottom line: the pretext for this hearing is baseless. @realDonaldTrump didn't demand a thing.
