Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman admitted that he had been offered to serve as minister of defense for Ukraine.
Vindman, 44, explained during his impeachment testimony that he had been offered the position three times but declined the position because of his loyalty to the United States. The lieutenant colonel was born in Ukraine, but his family immigrated to the U.S. when he was a toddler.
Vindman claimed he did not know why he was offered the high ranking position of defense minister.
[Watch: House Intelligence Committee holds public impeachment hearing featuring Vindman]
“Every single time, I dismissed it. Upon returning, I notified my chain of command and the appropriate counterintelligence folks about the offer,” said Vindman, later adding, “I think it would be a great honor, and frankly, I’m aware of service members that have left service to help nurture the developing democracies in that part of the world.”
He declined the offer and told Congress, “I’m an American. I came here when I was a toddler, and I immediately dismissed these offers. I did not entertain them.”
Vindman added that he found the offer “rather comical,” saying, “I was being asked to consider whether I would want to be the minister of defense, I did not leave the door open at all. But it is pretty funny for a lieutenant colonel in the United States Army, which really is not that senior, to be offered that illustrious of a position.”
He explained that he had no follow-up questions about the position with his chain of command. Vindman said he was not concerned about a “perception of a conflict of interest” following his offer because he only valued the opinion of his American colleagues.
“Frankly, if they were concerned with me being able to continue my duties, they would have brought that to my attention,” said Vindman.
Vindman is the top Ukraine specialist on the National Security Council. He testified that he raised concerns about President Trump’s phone call with President Zelensky, calling it “improper.”
