Applause breaks out after Vindman says he's not worried about testifying because 'this is America'

By Rachel Frazin - 11/19/19 01:46 PM EST
 
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Applause broke out during Tuesday's impeachment inquiry hearing when Lt. Col. Alexander VindmanAlexander VindmanPresident Trump's intelligence community security blanket Whistleblower's lawyer questions GOP senator's whistleblower protection caucus membership White House limits number of officials allowed to listen to Trump calls with foreign leaders: report MORE said he didn't need to worry about testifying because "this is America" and "right matters" here. 

Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney (D-N.Y.) asked Vindman if his dad, whom Vindman had addressed in earlier testimony, was worried that his son was putting himself in opposition to the U.S. president by testifying. 
 
"He deeply worried about it because in his context, there was the ultimate risk," Vindman said of his father, who migrated to the U.S. from the Soviet Union. 
When Maloney asked why Vindman felt like his dad didn't need to worry, Vindman replied "Because this is America. This is the country I've served and defended. ... Here, right matters."
 
With that, many in the House hearing room broke into applause. 
 
This is the second time applause has been heard for a witness during the impeachment inquiry. Members of the audience also broke into applause at the conclusion of former U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine Marie YovanovitchMarie YovanovitchWashington Post: Pompeo 'gaslighting' NPR reporter Pompeo lashes out at 'shameful' NPR reporter Parnas says he has turned over tape of Trump calling for diplomat's firing MORE's testimony on Friday. 

Tags Ukraine Alexander Vindman Marie Yovanovitch Sean Maloney Impeachment