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John Kelly says Vindman was right to report Trump's call with Zelensky

W_Heisenberg

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John Kelly says Vindman was right to report Trump's call with Zelensky - CNNPolitics

Former White House chief of staff John Kelly said Wednesday that Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman, a key witness in President Donald Trump's impeachment inquiry, was right to raise concerns about Trump's July call to Ukraine's president, The Atlantic reported.

Kelly also believes that Vindman, who was fired from White House last week, told the truth during testimony before House investigators last fall.

"Having seen something 'questionable (in the call),' Vindman properly notified his superiors," Kelly said at an event at Drew University, according to the magazine. "When subpoenaed by Congress in the House impeachment hearings, Vindman complied and told the truth."

"He did exactly what we teach them to do from cradle to grave," he said, according to the magazine. "He went and told his boss what he just heard."

Kelly said that when Vindman heard Trump tell Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky that he wanted the country to investigate former Vice President Joe Biden and his son, Hunter, the ask was for the aide "tantamount to hearing 'an illegal order,'" The Atlantic reported. Trump and his allies have repeatedly made unfounded and false claims to allege that the Bidens acted corruptly in Ukraine.

"We teach them, 'Don't follow an illegal order. And if you're ever given one, you'll raise it to whoever gives it to you that this is an illegal order, and then tell your boss,'" Kelly said, according to the magazine.

The comments by Kelly, a retired Marine general, come as Trump has suggested Vindman could face disciplinary action, though a US defense official with knowledge of the matter told CNN there is no Army investigation into the Iraq War veteran and Purple Heart recipient.

Last month, Kelly said he believes John Bolton's allegation that Trump told the former national security adviser that US security aid to Ukraine was conditioned on an investigation of the President's political rivals, adding that Bolton should be heard from. At the time, congressional Democrats were trying to get the Senate to subpoena Bolton to testify during Trump's impeachment trial but the efforts were ultimately unsuccessful.

In October, Kelly said the President would not be in the middle of an impeachment process if he were still chief of staff, implying that White House advisers could have prevented it. He also said before he left the White House he advised Trump on hiring his replacement.

"I said whatever you do, don't hire a 'yes man,' someone who won't tell you the truth — don't do that," Kelly said at the time. "Because if you do, I believe you will be impeached."

I'm glad Kelly spoke up in support of Vindman. There has been a lot of false information and red herrings being thrown about concerning the fact that Vindman violated the chain of command. We have to remember that in the United States everyone who serves the government, including military personnel, takes an oath to the Constitution, not to the President.
 
John Kelly says Vindman was right to report Trump's call with Zelensky - CNNPolitics





I'm glad Kelly spoke up in support of Vindman. There has been a lot of false information and red herrings being thrown about concerning the fact that Vindman violated the chain of command. We have to remember that in the United States everyone who serves the government, including military personnel, takes an oath to the Constitution, not to the President.



Where are the rest of those former admin officials Trump bullied out of office? What do they have to say? So far, nothing. Looks like Trump's bullying is working, so far.
 
John Kelly says Vindman was right to report Trump's call with Zelensky - CNNPolitics





I'm glad Kelly spoke up in support of Vindman. There has been a lot of false information and red herrings being thrown about concerning the fact that Vindman violated the chain of command. We have to remember that in the United States everyone who serves the government, including military personnel, takes an oath to the Constitution, not to the President.

Kelly is absolutely dead right.

Vindman did what he is supposed to do, based on what he thought happened.

The issue is, what he thought happened is in dispute.

This is nothing more than left reading more into comments that are actually there, pretty par for the course.
 
Kelly is absolutely dead right.

Vindman did what he is supposed to do, based on what he thought happened.

The issue is, what he thought happened is in dispute.

This is nothing more than left reading more into comments that are actually there, pretty par for the course.

So convenient of you to sidestep the reaction by Trump supporters who said Vidman had gone broken chain of command, was insubordinate, leaked info, and whatever other lies your president invented and you gobbled up.

So I guess we're back to the your other argument: this was all just Vidman's "opinion" right? What does he know right?

Pathetic. Even disgraced GOP senators said it happened. Why do you keep defending the indefensible?
 
John Kelly says Vindman was right to report Trump's call with Zelensky - CNNPolitics





I'm glad Kelly spoke up in support of Vindman. There has been a lot of false information and red herrings being thrown about concerning the fact that Vindman violated the chain of command. We have to remember that in the United States everyone who serves the government, including military personnel, takes an oath to the Constitution, not to the President.
not only did he violate the chain of command he leaked classified information to people that were not cleared to get it.
not only that but he didn't even leak correct information to those people.

Vindman is lucky that all that is happening to him is being reassigned.
 
Kelly is absolutely dead right.

Vindman did what he is supposed to do, based on what he thought happened.

The issue is, what he thought happened is in dispute.

This is nothing more than left reading more into comments that are actually there, pretty par for the course.

Whistleblowers in the military who report things to the IG don't have to have a completely accurate understanding of what transpired, they don't even have to exercise good judgment...

They just have to tell the truth and submit their information in good faith. Those are the requirements.

So if you believe that Vindman told the truth and submitted his information in good faith to the NSC lawyers, then you must OPPOSE Trump's retaliatory actions against Vindman and the near-constant demeaning and insulting of him on the part of authoritarian Trump supporters who would seek to make Trump a de facto dictator.
 
not only did he violate the chain of command he leaked classified information to people that were not cleared to get it.
not only that but he didn't even leak correct information to those people.

Vindman is lucky that all that is happening to him is being reassigned.

The point Kelly is making is that sometimes it's okay to violate the chain of command.

You Trump supporters are the same type of people who would have elected Hitler, that's the truth:

Authoritarianism - Wikipedia
 
not only did he violate the chain of command he leaked classified information to people that were not cleared to get it.
not only that but he didn't even leak correct information to those people.

Vindman is lucky that all that is happening to him is being reassigned.


When did you start hating the military?

I know.

The moment they went against Trump.

It's clear to any rational person where your loyalty lies, and it's not with America and democracy.
 
Kelly is absolutely dead right.

Vindman did what he is supposed to do, based on what he thought happened.

The issue is, what he thought happened is in dispute.

This is nothing more than left reading more into comments that are actually there, pretty par for the course.

Well, considering that he also asked zelenskyy to look into one of his rich guys hiding the DNC servers at his business Crowdstrike, in Ukraine, I'm inclined to believe the person who isn't clearly insane.
 
The point Kelly is making is that sometimes it's okay to violate the chain of command.

You Trump supporters are the same type of people who would have elected Hitler, that's the truth:

You should read the military protocols again. If vindman had a concern then he should have gone to his boss.
if his boss did not see it as a concern which is what he evidently was told then that is it.

he doesn't have the right to go leak and tell classified information to people that do not have clearance for it.
It seems you people are highly selective when it comes to who is allowed to leak classified data and isn't.

Yes leftist are highly authoritarianist you don't have to tell us that.
 
When did you start hating the military?

I know.

The moment they went against Trump.

It's clear to any rational person where your loyalty lies, and it's not with America and democracy.
your strawman if blowing away.
I support the military 100%. i don't support people the lie as vindman did.
vindman was mad because he was replaced because the people above him didn't trust him.
Morrison even said that he could not be trusted.
 
You should read the military protocols again. If vindman had a concern then he should have gone to his boss.
if his boss did not see it as a concern which is what he evidently was told then that is it.

he doesn't have the right to go leak and tell classified information to people that do not have clearance for it.
It seems you people are highly selective when it comes to who is allowed to leak classified data and isn't.

Yes leftist are highly authoritarianist you don't have to tell us that.

Kelly is right, Vindman is right, and Trump is wrong.
 
Not one person who has tried to claim Vindman lied, or was dishonest, has the balls or evidence to stand before the House or Senate. The most FOX did to try and attack him was have some dime store bobble head claim Vindman was conducting espionage. They quickly backtracked. All others still attacking Vindman are similarly spineless cowards who were all too happy to have a witness-less trial where new evidence was not allowed because more than half of the jury was working with the defendant.

It's that simple, folks.

Vote in November.

Я Баба Яга [emoji328]
 
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your strawman if blowing away.
I support the military 100%. i don't support people the lie as vindman did.
vindman was mad because he was replaced because the people above him didn't trust him.
Morrison even said that he could not be trusted.

Disgraceful.
 
So convenient of you to sidestep the reaction by Trump supporters who said Vidman had gone broken chain of command, was insubordinate, leaked info, and whatever other lies your president invented and you gobbled up.

So I guess we're back to the your other argument: this was all just Vidman's "opinion" right? What does he know right?

Pathetic. Even disgraced GOP senators said it happened. Why do you keep defending the indefensible?

He did break the chain of command,

Kelly never said he did it the right way,

Why is nuance hard for you?
 
John Kelly says Vindman was right to report Trump's call with Zelensky - CNNPolitics

I'm glad Kelly spoke up in support of Vindman. There has been a lot of false information and red herrings being thrown about concerning the fact that Vindman violated the chain of command. We have to remember that in the United States everyone who serves the government, including military personnel, takes an oath to the Constitution, not to the President.

Wow. Good for Kelly. Maybe Kelly is feeling remorse for not having stood up to our criminal president earlier.

Vindman did what every patriotic American should have done.

From his opening remarks to Congress:
"I also recognize that my simple act of appearing here today, just like the courage of my colleagues who have also truthfully testified before this Committee, would not be tolerated in many places around the world. In Russia, my act of expressing my concerns to the chain of command in an official and private channel would have severe personal and professional repercussions and offering public testimony involving the President would surely cost me my life. I am grateful for my father’s brave act of hope 40 years ago and for the privilege of being an American citizen and public servant, where I can live free of fear for mine and my family’s safety.

"Dad, my sitting here today, in the US Capitol talking to our elected officials is proof that you made the right decision forty years ago to leave the Soviet Union and come here to United States of America in search of a better life for our family. Do not worry, I will be fine for telling the truth."​

Vindman will indeed be fine, but no thanks to Trump and his Republican goons.
 
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Whistleblowers in the military who report things to the IG don't have to have a completely accurate understanding of what transpired, they don't even have to exercise good judgment...

They just have to tell the truth and submit their information in good faith. Those are the requirements.

So if you believe that Vindman told the truth and submitted his information in good faith to the NSC lawyers, then you must OPPOSE Trump's retaliatory actions against Vindman and the near-constant demeaning and insulting of him on the part of authoritarian Trump supporters who would seek to make Trump a de facto dictator.

No, I think Trump's actions against Vindman are fine, his comments are rephrensible, but replacing him is fine.
 
I don't know how much weight Kelly has at this point, but I'm glad he said this. It's really tough watching the current administration drag veterans through the mud while his "patriotic" followers hoot and holler.
 
your strawman if blowing away.
I support the military 100%. i don't support people the lie as vindman did.
vindman was mad because he was replaced because the people above him didn't trust him.
Morrison even said that he could not be trusted.

"Former White House chief of staff John Kelly said Wednesday that Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman, a key witness in President Donald Trump's impeachment inquiry, was right to raise concerns about Trump's July call to Ukraine's president, The Atlantic reported.

Kelly also believes that Vindman, who was fired from White House last week, told the truth during testimony before House investigators last fall.

"Having seen something 'questionable (in the call),' Vindman properly notified his superiors," Kelly said at an event at Drew University, according to the magazine. "When subpoenaed by Congress in the House impeachment hearings, Vindman complied and told the truth."​

Of course it was the truth. He basically just recited what the WH call notes already said.
 
I don't know how much weight Kelly has at this point, but I'm glad he said this. It's really tough watching the current administration drag veterans through the mud while his "patriotic" followers hoot and holler.

FBI counter terrorism experts, US Ambassadors, policy experts. People with the courage and the sense of duty to stand up and tell the truth.

All getting slimed and fired by the forces of authoritarianism and dishonesty and cowardice.

This is quite a moment in history. History will not be kind to Republicans.
 
He did break the chain of command,

Kelly never said he did it the right way,

Why is nuance hard for you?

Yes, he did.

LINK

John Kelly defends Vindman: ‘He did exactly what we teach them to do’

Where does Kelly say anything about breaking the chain of command or not doing things "the right way" as you so eloquently put it?
Of course he didn't. You just feel the need to defend Trump and smear war heroes. Disgraceful.
 
Yes, he did.

LINK



Where does Kelly say anything about breaking the chain of command or not doing things "the right way" as you so eloquently put it?
Of course he didn't. You just feel the need to defend Trump and smear war heroes. Disgraceful.

You realize Kelly is talking about the act of reporting what he heard, not who he reported it to right?
 
In October, Kelly said the President would not be in the middle of an impeachment process if he were still chief of staff, implying that White House advisers could have prevented it. He also said before he left the White House he advised Trump on hiring his replacement.

"I said whatever you do, don't hire a 'yes man,' someone who won't tell you the truth — don't do that," Kelly said at the time. "Because if you do, I believe you will be impeached."

So who did Trump hire? Mick Mulvaney, a total lick-spittle Trump 'yes man.'
 
You realize Kelly is talking about the act of reporting what he heard, not who he reported it to right?

You realize your tiny concerns are utterly irrelevant to the big picture here, right? But I guess that's all you have, so you're going with it. :roll:
 
You realize your tiny concerns are utterly irrelevant to the big picture here, right? But I guess that's all you have, so you're going with it. :roll:

You assume I am concerned about it, I am not. You shouldn't be either, but somehow your panties got tied up in a knot over it.
 
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