READ: In Opening Statement, Vindman Assures His Dad He’ll Be ‘Fine’ After Testifying

WASHINGTON, DC - NOVEMBER 19: National Security Council Director for European Affairs Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman reads an opening statement before the House Intelligence Committee in the Longworth House Office Buildi... WASHINGTON, DC - NOVEMBER 19: National Security Council Director for European Affairs Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman reads an opening statement before the House Intelligence Committee in the Longworth House Office Building on Capitol Hill November 19, 2019 in Washington, DC. The committee heard testimony during the third day of open hearings in the impeachment inquiry against U.S. President Donald Trump, whom House Democrats say held back U.S. military aid for Ukraine while demanding it investigate his political rivals and the unfounded conspiracy theory that Ukrainians, not Russians, were behind the 2016 computer hacking of the Democratic National Committee. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images) MORE LESS
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Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman, a Ukraine expert on the National Security Council, ended his opening statement Tuesday with an emotional address to his father, promising him that he’ll be “fine” despite giving testimony that is damaging to the President.

“Dad, my sitting here today, in the U.S. 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 the United States of America in search of a better life for our
family,” he said. “Do not worry, I will be fine for telling the truth.”

Read his prepared opening remarks here:

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  1. Vindman’s Dad comment was a touching moment. He’s coming off as nervous and quite human, just like most of us would in that situation.

  2. No, no – I just got some dust in my eye, that’s all.

  3. That a decorated soldier would have to reassure his father that he will be safe after testifying to the truth speaks volumes about the corruption of Trump and the Republicans. This should be the “have you no shame” moment of the hearings, but probably won’t be. I feel like crying for my country.

  4. In a number of countries (too many to list here) Vindman’s life, as he knew it, would be over.

    In all the films I have ever seen of Americans dealing with out-of-control situations (let alone govenments) when abroad, ALL have happily either gone back to the safety and security of the United States or fantasized about it when they lay dying.

    This is what Trump has taken from us.

    Trump is weakening, but Nunes, Jordan and McConnell, as evil as they are, do not appear to me to be delusional. There is some calculation on their part that Trump can come out of this and Remain in Power.

    There will come a point in time when we know that they have thrown in the towel. How fast that comes will largely depend on the numbskulls who still poll for Trump.

    Because if 70% of us want Impeachment AND Removal, Trump is Toast.

    We Americans hold the future in our collective hands.

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