WASHINGTON: Lieut­enant Colonel Alexander Vindman, who provided damning impeachment evidence against President Donald Trump, retired from the US Army on Wednesday after being subjected to a campaign of “bullying, intimidation and retaliation,” his attorney said.

Vindman, 45, was fired from his position on the National Security Council at the White House in February, two days after Trump was acquitted by the Republican-majority Senate.

Vindman was up for promotion to full colonel but his attorney, David Pressman, said in a statement that would clearly not be forthcoming.

Vindman is “retiring tod­ay after it has been made clear that his future within the institution he has dutifully served will forever be limited,” Press­man said. “LTC Vindman’s patriotism has cost him his career,” he said.

“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.

“These are choices that no one in the United States should confront, especially one who has dedicated his life to serving it,” Pressman said.

Published in Dawn, July 9th, 2020