1. SOUNDBITE (English) Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman, National Security Council Ukraine Expert:
"I want to emphasize to the committee that when I reported my concerns on July 10th relating to Ambassador Sondland and then July 25th relating to the President, I did so out of a sense of duty. I privately reported my concerns in official channels to the proper authority in the chain of command. My intent was to raise these concerns because they had significant national security implications for our country. I never thought I'd be sitting here testifying in front of this committee and the American public about my actions. When I reported my concerns, my only thought was to act properly and to carry out my duty".
+++WHITE FLASH+++
2. SOUNDBITE (English) Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman, National Security Council Ukraine Expert
"In Russia, my act of expressing concern to the chain of command in an official and private channel would have severe personal professional repercussions, and offering public testimony involving the president would surely cost me my life."
+++WHITE FLASH+++
3. SOUNDBITE (English) Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman, National Security Council Ukraine Expert:
"Dad, I'm sitting here today in the U.S. capital talking to our elected professionals is proof that you made the right decision 40 years ago to leave the Soviet Union to come here to the United States of America in search of a better life for our family? Do not worry. I will be fine for telling the truth."
A White House aide says that he recognizes that what he is doing — testifying before Congress would not be tolerated in many other countries.
Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman says in Russia, for example, his “act of expressing my concerns to the chain of command in an official and private channel” would have cost him his life.
Vindman, dressed in uniform, testified that he felt Trump’s request on a July 25 call to a new Ukrainian leader to investigate a political rival was “improper.”
The U.S. Army official is an immigrant from Ukraine. He said that he is grateful his father came to the United States some 40 years ago, a place “where I can live free of fear for mine and my family’s safety.”
He then spoke to his late father, saying “Dad, my sitting here today ... is proof that you made the right decision 40 years ago to leave the Soviet Union.”
