House GOP leader says reassignment of Vindman was appropriate

House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthyKevin Owen McCarthyDon't let Trump distract us from the real threat of his presidency Overnight Health Care: Five takeaways from Fauci's testimony | CDC: Children might play 'important role' in spreading COVID-19 | GOP leader wants rapid testing at Capitol GOP leader wants to make rapid testing available at Capitol MORE (R-Calif.) said Lt. Col. Alexander VindmanAlexander VindmanVindman describes 'campaign of bullying, intimidation and retaliation' by Trump, allies in op-ed Vindman marks 1 year since call that led to Trump's impeachment White House officials alleged Vindman created hostile work environment after impeachment testimony: report MORE wasn't fired by President TrumpDonald John TrumpWhite House sued over lack of sign language interpreters at coronavirus briefings Wife blames Trump, lack of masks for husband's coronavirus death in obit: 'May Karma find you all' Trump authorizes reduced funding for National Guard coronavirus response through 2020 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 SondlandGOP 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' Trump names new EU envoy, filling post left vacant by impeachment witness Sondland 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 BidenTrump campaign emails supporters encouraging mask-wearing: 'We have nothing to lose' Cuba spells trouble for Bass's VP hopes Democrats want Biden to debate Trump despite risks 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 Randall MeadowsTrump won't say if he disagrees with Birx that virus is widespread On The Money: Democratic leaders report 'some progress' in stimulus talks | Prosecutors hint at probe into 'possibly extensive and protracted criminal conduct at the Trump Organization' Democratic leaders report 'some progress' in talks with White House 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."