On the Brink of War (w/ Alexander Vindman)
Skullduggery
Michael Isikoff, Daniel Klaidman, Victoria Bassetti
4 • 2K Ratings
🗓️ 8 February 2022
⏱️ 50 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
Back in 2019, United States Army Lieutenant Colonel Alexander Vindman, testified about the notorious phone call between then President Trump and Ukrainian President Zelensky. The one where Trump pressured the new foreign leader to launch investigations into that would embarrass Joe Biden and his son Hunter. Vindman's plain spoken account was a pivotal and dramatic moment that ultimately led to Trump's first impeachment. But Vindman's closing words addressed to his father who brought his family from the old Soviet Union to the United States more than forty years ago has an eerie echo today. Despite his assurance to his Dad then, "Don't worry I'll be alright for telling the truth," Vindman last week filed a lawsuit against Donald Trump Jr., Rudy Giuliani, and two other former White House Aides accusing them of running a coordinated intimidation and retaliation campaign against him. That he alleges has cost him significant financial emotional and reputational harm. Vindman joins us to discuss, and as a former Ukraine analyst on the National Security Council, we also talk to him about the current Russian threat to Ukraine.
GUEST:
- Alexander Vindman (@AVindman), Retired United States Army Lieutenant Colonel, Author
HOSTS:
- Michael Isikoff (@Isikoff), Chief Investigative Correspondent, Yahoo News
- Daniel Klaidman (@dklaidman), Editor in Chief, Yahoo News
- Victoria Bassetti (@VBass), fellow, Brennan Center for Justice (contributing co-host)
RESOURCES:
- Vindman lawsuit story and information - Here.
- Vindman's book Here, Right Matters for purchase - Here.
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| 0:00.0 | On July 25th, 2019, the call occurred. I listened in on the call in the situation room with White House colleagues. |
| 0:11.0 | I was concerned by the call. What I heard was inappropriate. And I reported my concerns to Mr. Eisenberg. |
| 0:18.0 | It is improper for the President of the United States to demand a foreign government investigate a US citizen and a political opponent. |
| 0:26.0 | Dad, I'm sitting here today in the US Capitol talking to our elected professionals. |
| 0:33.0 | Talking to our elected professionals is proof that you made the right decision 40 years ago to leave the Soviet Union, |
| 0:39.0 | 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. |
| 0:47.0 | That was former US Army colonel Alexander Vindman, testifying in 2019 about the notorious phone call between then President Trump and Ukrainian President Zelensky. |
| 0:59.0 | The one where Trump pressured the new foreign leader to launch investigations that would embarrass Joe Biden and his son, Hunter Biden. |
| 1:06.0 | Vindman's plane-spoken account was a pivotal and dramatic moment that ultimately led to Trump's first impeachment by the House. |
| 1:14.0 | But Vindman's closing words addressed to his father who brought his family from the old Soviet Union to the United States more than 40 years ago as an eerie echo today. |
| 1:25.0 | Despite his assurance to his dad then, don't worry. I'll be all right for telling the truth. |
| 1:31.0 | Vindman last week filed a lawsuit against Donald Trump Jr., Rudy Giuliani, and two other former White House aides accusing them of running a coordinated intimidation and retaliation campaign against him. |
| 1:43.0 | That he alleges has cost him, quote, significant financial, emotional, and reputational harm. |
| 1:50.0 | We'll talk to Vindman about his lawsuit and as a former Ukraine analyst on the National Security Council about the current Russian threat to that country on this episode of Skolduggery. |
| 2:03.0 | I do solemnly swear that I will faithfully execute the office of President of the United States. |
| 2:09.0 | I will to the best of my building. Reserve, protect, and defend. Constitution of the United States. So help me God. |
| 2:17.0 | So help me God. So help me God. So help me God. So help me God. |
| 2:23.0 | I'm Michael Luzagov, Chief Investigator and correspondent for Yahoo News. I'm Dan Clyde, Editor-in-Chief of Yahoo News. |
| 2:29.0 | And I'm Victoria Bissetti, a fellow at the Brennan Center for Justice. |
| 2:33.0 | You know, we all remember Vindman when he first, you know, burst onto the public scene in 2019, gave that testimony. |
| 2:43.0 | He's not a dramatic guy. He is, there's no theatrical flair. But his life story was and is so compelling. |
| 2:52.0 | He comes to this country as an immigrant from Ukraine when he's a three year old. His father brings him here. |
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