Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) slandered Lt. Colonel Alexander Vindman on Thursday in a rant questioning the Purple Heart recipient’s patriotism, resulting in backlash from former Ambassador Michael McFaul.
Vindman served during the Iraq War and was wounded by an IED. He is a decorated officer who had the courage to testify against President Donald Trump during House impeachment hearings. But for all their bluster about supposedly caring about the troops, Blackburn publicly attacked Vindman on Twitter by questioning his patriotism and slandering him when she was supposed to be in the Senate chamber during the impeachment trial.
Adam Schiff is hailing Alexander Vindman as an American patriot.
How patriotic is it to badmouth and ridicule our great nation in front of Russia, America’s greatest enemy?
— Sen. Marsha Blackburn (@MarshaBlackburn) January 23, 2020
Alexander Vindman broke the chain of command and leaked the contents of the President’s July 25th phone call to his pal, the “whistleblower.” Over a policy dispute with the President!
How is that not vindictive?
— Sen. Marsha Blackburn (@MarshaBlackburn) January 23, 2020
It makes sense that Alexander Vindman leaked the July 25th phone call to his friend (aka the “whistleblower”).
They both have lots in common:
—Held the same NSC job
—Liberals who worked under Obama
—Wanted to take out Trump
— Sen. Marsha Blackburn (@MarshaBlackburn) January 23, 2020
Vindman’s commanding officer, Army Lt. Col. Jim Hickman: “Do not let the uniform fool you. He is a political activist in uniform.”
— Sen. Marsha Blackburn (@MarshaBlackburn) January 24, 2020
This is the definition of malicious defamation of character, and Vindman should slap a lawsuit against Blackburn and take her to court. Her attack also makes it clear that Republicans don’t support the troops and think the troops exist to help the president abuse his power.
In response to her rant, former Ambassador to Russia Michael McFaul called her out.
Senator @MarshaBlackburn, I served with Lt. Col. Vindman in Russia, where he served with honor and great distinction. His commanding officer completely agrees with me. Please provide evidence to back up your claim. Otherwise, stop slandering a US soldier serving our great nation. https://t.co/Mqibbxi8Pu
— Michael McFaul (@McFaul) January 24, 2020
Our military does not exist to aid the president when he abuses his power. They certainly do not serve to help the president cover up his crimes. Trump attempted to extort Ukraine by withholding crucial military aid from the country in an effort to force the opening of a sham investigation against his political rival to tilt the 2020 Election in his favor. Extortion and election interference are crimes. Vindman witnessed these crimes and appeared before Congress to testify.
Meanwhile, Blackburn pretends to be a senator who loves this country, but all she has done since taking office is defend Trump, a draft dodger, at all costs even if it means slandering a combat veteran who has served our country honorably in uniform for over two decades. She has no shame and she must be removed from office.
Featured Image: Wikimedia
