Multiple Trump administration officials violated federal whistle-blower protection laws by removing Colonel Yevgeny Vindman from his position as a National Security Council lawyer after he made “protected communications” alleging that former president Donald Trump violated US law by asking Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to investigate then-former Vice President Joe Biden and his son during a 2019 phone call, according to a new report from the Defense Department’s inspector general.
“We found, based on a preponderance of the evidence, that the Complainant was the subject of unfavorable personnel actions from administration officials,” Acting Inspector General Sean O’Donnell wrote in the report, which was released on Wednesday by his office. “Furthermore, we concluded based on a preponderance of the evidence, that these actions would not have occurred or been withheld absent the Complainant’s protected communications”.
Specifically, Mr O’Donnell found Col Vindman made several such communications when he discussed Mr Trump’s request for an investigation with Michael Ellis, who then the National Security Council’s legal adviser, and John Eisenberg, who was Mr Ellis’ deputy at the NSC. Both also held appointments in the White House Counsel’s Office.
Mr O’Donnell also found that Col Vindman also became the target of retaliation by White House officials — including Mr Trump — because of his association with his twin brother, Lieutenant Colonel Alexander Vindman, after he...
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