The Retired Lieutenant Colonel shares how he watched the former president’s corruption scheme unfold and his concern about future threats on Matenaer on Air.
By Teri Barr
The Retired Lieutenant Colonel shares how he watched the former president’s corruption scheme unfold and his concern about future threats on Matenaer on Air
It’s a revealing conversation as Alexander Vindman, retired U.S. Army Lieutenant Colonel and Purple Heart recipient, talks about his role in the first impeachment trial of former President Donald Trump. He also shares warnings around future political dangers if Trump returns to power. He joined Jane Matenaer and Greg Bach for Matenaer on Air.
LISTEN to the complete interview here:
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Vindman was born in Ukraine and immigrated to the U.S. at a young age. His 20-year career in the military culminated with a position on the National Security Council (NSC). And his testimony during Trump’s first impeachment trial in 2019 made national headlines. Vindman exposed an attempt to withhold $400 million in military aid to Ukraine in exchange for an investigation into then-presidential candidate Joe Biden.
“There were key moments leading up to my decision to testify,” Vindman says. “A political appointee of Trump told Ukraine’s national security advisor they needed to provide Trump with an investigation to receive military assistance. I saw this scheme unfold over months.”
Vindman tells Matenaer and Bach he called it a “cowboy operation” that betrayed U.S. national security interests. But he stood his ground, reporting the corruption through official White House channels.
“We will not be a party to this,” he says, ultimately testifying in Congress and facing retaliation ending his military career.
Trump’s potential return to power is concerning to Vindman. He warns Project 2025 and Schedule F would replace thousands of career civil servants with politically loyal individuals.
“This would be disastrous,” Vindman explains. “Trump’s plan would hollow out critical government agencies, filling them with unqualified individuals whose only qualification is blind loyalty to the former president.”
He also points out the 2024 election could decide whether the U.S. remains a stable democracy or falls further into chaos under another Trump administration.
“We do not need chaos,” Vindman says. “We need stability, dependability, and respect on the global stage. I will remain an outspoken advocate for safeguarding democracy and to warn against the dangers of authoritarianism and corruption.”
