Zincwarrior
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Pentagon is trying to get Congress to investigate one of the Vindman Brothers. Remember them, the Colonel who was key in exposing Trump's attempt to fabricate dirt on Biden?
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Rep. Eugene Vindman (D-Virginia) speaks alongside Hanan Elatr Khashoggi, the widow of slain journalist Jamal Khashoggi, at a news conference at the U.S. Capitol on Friday. (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)
The Pentagon is urging the House to investigate whether Rep. Eugene Vindman (D-Virginia) improperly consulted on behalf of the Ukrainian government before being elected to Congress ā a claim the congressman denies and argues is an attempt by the Trump administration to āintimidateā him.
In a letter dated Nov. 19, and reviewed by The Washington Post, Pentagon general counsel Earl Matthews alleges that Vindman and his twin brother, Alex, did not have approval from the U.S. government before seeking to act as āpaid brokersā for American defense firms pursuing contracts with Ukraine after Russiaās 2022 full-scale invasion.
The letter does not explicitly allege the Vindmans received money from the Ukrainian government, arguing only that they ādid not insulate themselves from the requirements of federal law.ā
Eugene Vindman told The Post that their revenue came only from American firms and that they obeyed necessary regulations.
The Vindman brothers ā who received national attention while serving on the National Security Council during Trumpās first impeachment in 2019 ā are both retired Army officers, and needed the consent of the U.S. secretary of state and Army secretary before working on behalf of a foreign government, the letter argues.
āIf any U.S. military retiree could simply form a āconsulting firmā and immediately start providing services to a foreign government without the required secretarial approvals, it would make a mockery of the law,ā Matthews writes in a letter addressed to the House committees on ethics, oversight and armed services.
In an interview, Eugene Vindman denied the allegations and called them a politically motivated attack.
āThis is an attempt to intimidate and silence me, and it aināt going to work,ā he said.
Spokespeople for the House committees that received the letter did not respond to requests for comment.
In a statement, a Pentagon spokesperson said the department was āaware of a potential violation of the Emoluments Clause and applicable federal regulations by Rep. Vindman before he entered Congress and has referred the matter to the House Committee on Ethics.ā The Constitutionās emoluments clause limits how U.S. officials can accept payment or gifts from foreign governments.
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Pentagon urges inquiry of Trump foe Vindman over Ukraine work
The Pentagon is urging the House to investigate whether Rep. Eugene Vindman (D-Virginia) improperly consulted on behalf of Ukraine ā a claim he denies.Rep. Eugene Vindman (D-Virginia) speaks alongside Hanan Elatr Khashoggi, the widow of slain journalist Jamal Khashoggi, at a news conference at the U.S. Capitol on Friday. (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)
The Pentagon is urging the House to investigate whether Rep. Eugene Vindman (D-Virginia) improperly consulted on behalf of the Ukrainian government before being elected to Congress ā a claim the congressman denies and argues is an attempt by the Trump administration to āintimidateā him.
In a letter dated Nov. 19, and reviewed by The Washington Post, Pentagon general counsel Earl Matthews alleges that Vindman and his twin brother, Alex, did not have approval from the U.S. government before seeking to act as āpaid brokersā for American defense firms pursuing contracts with Ukraine after Russiaās 2022 full-scale invasion.
The letter does not explicitly allege the Vindmans received money from the Ukrainian government, arguing only that they ādid not insulate themselves from the requirements of federal law.ā
Eugene Vindman told The Post that their revenue came only from American firms and that they obeyed necessary regulations.
The Vindman brothers ā who received national attention while serving on the National Security Council during Trumpās first impeachment in 2019 ā are both retired Army officers, and needed the consent of the U.S. secretary of state and Army secretary before working on behalf of a foreign government, the letter argues.
āIf any U.S. military retiree could simply form a āconsulting firmā and immediately start providing services to a foreign government without the required secretarial approvals, it would make a mockery of the law,ā Matthews writes in a letter addressed to the House committees on ethics, oversight and armed services.
In an interview, Eugene Vindman denied the allegations and called them a politically motivated attack.
āThis is an attempt to intimidate and silence me, and it aināt going to work,ā he said.
Spokespeople for the House committees that received the letter did not respond to requests for comment.
In a statement, a Pentagon spokesperson said the department was āaware of a potential violation of the Emoluments Clause and applicable federal regulations by Rep. Vindman before he entered Congress and has referred the matter to the House Committee on Ethics.ā The Constitutionās emoluments clause limits how U.S. officials can accept payment or gifts from foreign governments.
