Will Lt. Col Vindman tell all? Key Donald Trump impeachment witness quits saying he was 'bullied by the president' and offered promotion to 'a radar station in Alaska'

Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman, the national security aide who played a central role in President Donald Trump's impeachment case, announced his retirement from the Army Wednesday in a scathing statement that accused the president of running a 'campaign of bullying, intimidation, and retaliation.'

The statement from attorney David Pressman said Vindman was leaving the Army after more than 21 years after it had been made clear 'that his future within the institution he has dutifully served will forever be limited.'

'Through a campaign of bullying, intimidation, and retaliation, the President of the United States attempted to force LTC Vindman to choose: Between adhering to the law or pleasing a President. Between honoring his oath or protecting his career. Between protecting his promotion or the promotion of his fellow soldiers,' read the statement, first obtained by CNN.

The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment. National Security Adviser Robert O'Brien did not respond to questions about Vindman when he spoke to reporters at the White House Wednesday morning.

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Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman, the national security aide who played a central role in President Donald Trump's impeachment case, announced his retirement from the Army - he is seen above testifying before House lawmakers in November 2019 

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Alexander Vindman tweeted the news of his retirement

Vindman tweeted the news along with a photo of himself in civilian clothes, typing on a laptop. 

'Today I officially requested retirement from the US Army, an organization I love. My family and I look forward to the next chapter of our lives,' he wrote. 

There has been speculation about what Vindman may do next, including signing on as a contributor to a cable network or writing a book. Marie Yovanovitch, the former U.S. ambassador to Ukraine who was another key impeachment witness, is working on a memoir and other administration officials have written on their dealings with Trump.

President Trump in February ousted Vindman from his White House job just two days after his acquittal by the Senate. Vindman´s lawyer said his client had been told to leave in retaliation for 'telling the truth.'

The president tried to justify Vindman's removal at the time. 'He was very insubordinate, reported contents of my 'perfect' calls incorrectly, & was given a horrendous report by his superior,' Trump tweeted then.  

Vindman, who was the National Security Council's Ukraine expert, testified under subpoena last fall about his concerns surrounding a call between Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

He said in his testimony that he didn´t think it was 'proper' for Trump to 'demand that a foreign government investigate' former Vice President Joe Biden and his son´s dealings with the energy company Burisma in Ukraine.

Last month, The Washington Post reported about concerns among government officials that the White House would try to block Vindman's promotion. He, along with hundreds of other officers, had been selected by the Army to be elevated to become a full colonel. 

Defense Secretary Mark Esper has insisted that Vindman is not being targeted for political reasons but there have been reports the White House has sought involvement in the promotions process. 

One senior officer joked about sending Vindman to 'man a radar station in Alaska,' a source told CNN. 

After speaking with senior military officials, Vindman decided to retire rather than attend the National War College, which was his next planned assignment.

He was told by senior Army officials he would not be deployable in his area of expertise, CNN reported, and that he needed a ‘rehabilitative assignment.’

Last week, Democratic Senator Tammy Duckworth of Illinois, an Army veteran who is Biden's list as a possible running mate, said she would block the promotion of more than 1,000 officers unless the Defense Department ensured that Vindman would not be subjected to retaliation. 

Army Secretary Ryan McCarthy recommended Vindman be promoted to colonel, an official told Politico. 

McCarthy included Vindman's name in a list of officers recommended for promotion he sent to Esper's office. It's unclear whether Esper forwarded that recommendation to the White House. 

There was concern some White House officials would remove Vindman's name from consideration. 

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Vindman's attorney accused President Trump of running a 'campaign of bullying, intimidation, and retaliation'

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President Trump in February ousted Alexander Vindman from his White House job just two days after his acquittal by the Senate

Testifying in his Army uniform as an active-duty soldier in November of last year, Vindman also spoke of his family´s story and his father bringing them to the U.S. when he was a young child.

'Dad, my sitting here today in the U.S. Capitol, talking to our elected officials, is proof that you made the right decision 40 years ago to leave the Soviet Union and come here to United States of America in search of a better life for our family,' he testified. 'Do not worry, I will be fine for telling the truth.'

Trump says military can handle fired Vindman 'any way they want'

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