Rep. Lee Zeldin accused the New York Times of spreading misinformation during its live coverage of congressional impeachment hearings.
“Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman became so concerned during a July 25 phone call in which President Trump asked Ukraine’s president for help with political investigations that he reported his alarm to a superior,” a Tuesday tweet from the Times read.
“This Tweet from @nytpolitics is just not accurate,” Zeldin responded. “Actually LTC Vindman didn’t state his concerns about the 7/25 call to his superior Tim Morrison or anyone up the Vindman/Morrison Chain of Command.”
This Tweet from @nytpolitics is just not accurate. Actually LTC Vindman didn’t state his concerns about the 7/25 call to his superior Tim Morrison or anyone up the Vindman/Morrison Chain of Command. Although it does appear one of the people Vindman spoke to was the whistleblower. https://t.co/jvXDLHhypq
— Lee Zeldin (@RepLeeZeldin) November 19, 2019
Vindman testified twice during closed-door testimony that he reported his concern to his superior, though he did not name who that was.
Morrison testified that Vindman never notified him of any concerns “open source and first-hand knowledge” of the call.
During public testimony, Vindman, a National Security Council official and decorated war veteran, said he was deeply troubled after learning that Trump had pressured the Ukrainian leader to investigate 2020 Democratic presidential front-runner Joe Biden and the business dealings of his son, Hunter.
“It is improper for the president of the United States to demand a foreign government to investigate a U.S. citizen and a political opponent,” Vindman said.
Zeldin, who has been one of Trump’s most vocal defenders in Congress, pointed to contradictions between various career diplomats who have been called as witnesses by Democrats as part of the proceedings.
