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2019-11-12 Home Front: Politix

Pentagon chief says Vindman should not fear Army retaliation

WASHINGTON (AP) ‐ Defense Secretary Mark Esper said Monday that an Army officer has no reason to fear retribution for testifying before Congress in the impeachment inquiry of President Donald Trump.

Esper was asked about potential retribution for Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman during a trip to New York City. The defense secretary said the Pentagon "has protections for whistleblowers" who report waste, fraud or abuse.

He said Vindman or any other whistleblower "shouldn’t have any fear of retaliation," according to a transcript of the exchange released by online publication Defense One.

Vindman is the Ukraine specialist at the White House’s National Security Council who was on the July 25 phone call between Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymr Zelenskiy. Vindman testified about concerns that Trump was delaying military aid to the Eastern European country while pressing the country to investigate his political rivals.

That phone call, and Trump’s request for a "favor" from Ukraine are the basis of the impeachment inquiry.

According to the Defense One transcript, Esper was asked what he would tell service members who might wonder if Vindman’s career is in jeopardy and whether their own careers would be at risk if they blew the whistle on waste, fraud or abuse.

Esper responded by saying the Pentagon "has protections for whistleblowers -- they’re guaranteed in law. And he shouldn’t have any fear of retaliation. That’s DoD’s position," referring to the Department of Defense.

Posted by Besoeker 2019-11-12 00:00|| || Front Page|| [11138 views ] Top

#1 This 'protection for whistleblowers' thing. Isn't it something detrimental to military or intelligence directives ? Does it even extend to the relationship between an O-5 and the CinC ?

Posted by Dron66046 2019-11-12 02:25|| 2019-11-12 02:25|| Front Page Top

#2 He is a spy.

Posted by Varmint Splat1454 2019-11-12 02:27|| 2019-11-12 02:27|| Front Page Top

#3 who report waste, fraud or abuse

How does it fits what Vindman did?

Posted by g(r)omgoru 2019-11-12 02:32|| 2019-11-12 02:32|| Front Page Top

#4 Unless it is something new, the military does not have a "whisleblower" program, per se. The correct venue for issues of concern is the 'chain of command,' Inspector General, Waste Fraud & Abuse Hotline, or Staff Judge Advocate (SJA).

Again, unless something has changed in the past 20 years, which is entirely possible.

Posted by Besoeker 2019-11-12 05:19|| 2019-11-12 05:19|| Front Page Top

#5 Being posted to McMurdo, on the other hand...

Posted by g(r)omgoru 2019-11-12 05:48|| 2019-11-12 05:48|| Front Page Top

#6 Insubordination. Give him the MacArthur treatment.

Posted by Lemuel Prince of the Platypi5893 2019-11-12 05:48|| 2019-11-12 05:48|| Front Page Top

#7 Vindman has nothing to fear for being a whistleblower. However, he is not a whistleblower. He is an officer who disobeyed a legal order. For that alone he should be courtmartialed.

Posted by Rambler in Virginia 2019-11-12 08:33|| 2019-11-12 08:33|| Front Page Top

#8 Alex Vindman Is Living, Breathing Proof That The Deep State Exists, And It Is Corrupt

Posted by g(r)omgoru 2019-11-12 08:48|| 2019-11-12 08:48|| Front Page Top

#9 Retaliation, no. But personally I'd like a word or two on exactly how and why he somehow does not have to work within the chain of command, you know like EVERYBODY else in uniform.

Posted by Cesare 2019-11-12 09:46|| 2019-11-12 09:46|| Front Page Top

#10 Fair trial, quick hanging.
Justice deserved isn't retaliation or retribution, it's just justice.

Posted by One Eyed Tsar 2019-11-12 10:00|| 2019-11-12 10:00|| Front Page Top

#11 He's in a position now where anything he doesn't like about his treatment by the Army or DoD will be seen as "harassment" or "retaliation." The military better figure out how to prevent an entire class of guys like this or next thing you know they will be running the place.

Posted by M. Murcek 2019-11-12 10:17|| 2019-11-12 10:17|| Front Page Top

#12 REMFs are a serious problem in any military, MM.

Posted by g(r)omgoru 2019-11-12 10:26|| 2019-11-12 10:26|| Front Page Top

#13 Pentagon will not retaliate. They will follow the UCMJ and nail him for being a criminal...

Posted by 49 Pan 2019-11-12 13:59|| 2019-11-12 13:59|| Front Page Top

#14 Vindman decided to become a whistleblower because he disagreed with Trump's policy. Vindman does not make foreign policy. You could say he tried to usurp the Constitutional authority of the President. He ought to be brought up on charges.

Posted by JohnQC 2019-11-12 15:23|| 2019-11-12 15:23|| Front Page Top

#15 When is enforcing the law retaliation? [Scroll up to Liberals Hate the Police ~~but love their Gestapol~~]

Posted by Procopius2k 2019-11-12 15:48|| 2019-11-12 15:48|| Front Page Top

#16 Ref #13: Pentagon will not retaliate. They will follow the UCMJ and nail him for being a criminal...

Sadly, I'll bet you a Porterhouse at the Mash House in Fayetteville this never happens.

Posted by Besoeker 2019-11-12 16:32|| 2019-11-12 16:32|| Front Page Top

#17 The Mash House!

Being posted to McMurdo, on the other hand...

McMurdo is a treat.
We do need some RADAR watchers on Shemya though.

Posted by Skidmark 2019-11-12 17:04|| 2019-11-12 17:04|| Front Page Top

#18 How about " Ekalaka Mini-Mutes Radar Site, Carter County, Montana, 45.6667°N -104.3669°W " ...
A friend once told me that Alaska is a "hardship post with double points..." so why not find some place in the CONUS where you have to drive 50+ miles to buy a beer?

Posted by magpie 2019-11-12 20:09|| 2019-11-12 20:09|| Front Page Top

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