House GOP leader says reassignment of Vindman was appropriate

House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthyKevin McCarthyHouse passes voting rights and elections reform bill Parliamentarian strikes down Pelosi priority in aid package Democrats snipe on policy, GOP brawls over Trump MORE (R-Calif.) said Lt. Col. Alexander VindmanAlexander VindmanVindman says he doesn't regret testimony against Trump Esper: If my replacement is 'a real yes man' then 'God help us' Ukrainian president whose call with Trump sparked impeachment congratulates Biden MORE wasn't fired by President TrumpDonald TrumpHouse passes voting rights and elections reform bill DEA places agent seen outside Capitol during riot on leave Georgia Gov. Kemp says he'd 'absolutely' back Trump as 2024 nominee MORE, but reassigned, and it was appropriate.

 

“Is it appropriate for the news to say he was fired when he was not, he was reassigned?” McCarthy told reporters during a press conference on Tuesday. “I think that is appropriate.”

 

Vindman was escorted out of the White House on Friday and removed from his temporary position on the National Security Council, just days after the Senate voted to acquit Trump on impeachment charges.

 

Vindman had offered damaging testimony against Trump in the House impeachment hearings, and his removal from the NSC was seen as payback. He was moved back to the Pentagon through Friday's decision.

 

Gordon SondlandGordon SondlandGraham's 'impeach Kamala' drumbeat will lead Republicans to a 2022 defeat GOP chairman vows to protect whistleblowers following Vindman retirement over 'bullying' Top Democrat slams Trump's new EU envoy: Not 'a political donor's part-time job' MORE, the U.S. ambassador to the European Union, was also removed from his position on Friday. Vindman's twin brother, Lt. Col. Yevgeny Vindman, was also reassigned from his position as a White House attorney to the Department of the Army.

 

Sondland also testified in the impeachment hearing about Trump's efforts to get Ukraine to conduct politically-motivated investigations of former Vice President Joe BidenJoe BidenThe West needs a more collaborative approach to Taiwan Abbott's medical advisers were not all consulted before he lifted Texas mask mandate House approves George Floyd Justice in Policing Act MORE. Yevgeny Vindman was not a witness in the impeachment proceedings. 

Democrats have blasted the removal of Vindman and Sondland, while Republicans have offered support for the president. 

Rep. Mark MeadowsMark MeadowsHow scientists saved Trump's FDA from politics Liberals howl after Democrats cave on witnesses Kinzinger calls for people with info on Trump to come forward MORE (R-N.C.) said the decision was not motivated by an urge to retaliate against administration officials over participating in the impeachment proceedings, but an effort to get Trump's team on the same page. 

“This is not about getting even, this is about having a team around you that's willing to support your agenda. Listen, this is the only president who can run on his accomplishments in the first three years and still run against his own administration because part of his administration is trying to defeat the Trump agenda,” Meadows said during an appearance on "Fox & Friends."