US President Donald Trump's administration on Friday ousted the two witnesses who provided the most damaging testimony during his impeachment investigation: Army Lieutenant Colonel Alexander Vindman and Ambassador Gordon Sondland.

US President Donald Trump's administration on Friday ousted the two witnesses who provided the most damaging testimony during his impeachment investigation: Army Lieutenant Colonel Alexander Vindman and Ambassador Gordon Sondland. Two days after Trump was acquitted by the Republican-controlled Senate on charges of trying to pressure Ukraine to investigate a political rival, Vindman -- the top Ukraine expert at the White House's National Security Council -- was escorted out of the building, according to his lawyer. "Vindman was asked to leave for telling the truth," said his lawyer, David Pressman. Hours later, Sondland said he had been fired from his post as U.S ambassador to the European Union. The two men served as star witnesses during the Democratic-controlled House of Representatives' impeachment investigation last year. Vindman's twin brother Yevgeny, who worked as a lawyer at the NSC, also was escorted out of the White House, according to Michael Volkov, who represented Vindman when he testified in the impeachment inquiry. Trump has said he is still upset with Democrats and government officials involved in the impeachment investigation, even after he was acquitted on Wednesday. "I'm not happy with him. You think I'm supposed to be happy with him?" he said of Vindman on Friday. An NSC spokesman declined to comment. Vindman, a decorated combat veteran, testified in November that he "couldn't believe what I was hearing" when he listened in on a July 25 phone call between Trump and Ukrainian President Volodimir Zelenskiy that became the focus of the inquiry. Trump asked Zelenskiy to launch investigations into both Democratic rival Joe Biden and a discredited theory that Ukraine, not Russia, colluded with Democrats to harm Trump in the 2016 US presidential election. Sondland, a wealthy Republican donor and Oregon hotelier who served as U.S. Ambassador to the European Union, testified that he was following Trump's orders when he pushed Ukrainian officials to carry out investigations sought by the president. "I am grateful to President Trump for having given me the opportunity to serve," he said. The White House and State Department did not immediately respond to requests for comment on Sondland's removal. "This is as clear a case of retribution as I've seen during my 27 years in the Senate," said Democratic Senator Dianne Feinstein. Biden's campaign for the Democratic presidential nomination suffered a serious setback when he came in fourth place at the Democrats' first state contest in Iowa this week. Vindman's two-year stint at the White House had been due to end in July. An Army spokesperson said both brothers had been reassigned to the Army, but declined to give further information "out of respect for their privacy." Another senior White House aide who testified over impeachment, Jennifer Williams, left this week for a post at the U.S. military's Central Command, according to Bloomberg News. Vindman downplayed concerns that he would suffer payback for speaking out when he testified to Congress. "I will be fine for telling the truth," he said.

Two days after his acquittal, Trump ousts two star impeachment witnesses

A key actor in President Donald&nbsp;Trump's alleged effort to pressure Ukraine for dirt on his political rivals will be in the&nbsp;hot&nbsp;seat&nbsp;Wednesday as Democrats build their <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/impeachment-inquiry-white-house-official-criticizes-trump-call-decries-cowardly-attacks-263213">case for impeaching</a> the US leader.

Numerous witnesses have fingered Gordon&nbsp;Sondland, the US ambassador to the European Union, as a central conveyor of&nbsp;Trump's demands that Ukraine investigate potential 2020 rival Joe Biden in exchange for unfreezing US aid to the country.

In earlier closed-door testimony&nbsp;Sondland&nbsp;repeated almost 100 times that he "can't remember" and "can't recall" when pressed over his dealings with&nbsp;Trump&nbsp;and Ukraine.

Initially maintaining that he was unaware that US military aid was being held up in exchange for a probe, he later made a humiliating about-face, amending his testimony to state that he did in fact know this was the case.

In the second week of <a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/trump-impeachment-public-hearings-today-261834">televised&nbsp;hearings</a>&nbsp;in the House Intelligence Committee, the hotel tycoon-turned-diplomat is expected to be confronted with powerful evidence that could force him into refusing to answer, or dramatically testifying against the US leader.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/trump-impeachment-what-rules-will-the-house-use-in-televised-hearings-261826">In Pictures:&nbsp;Trump impeachment: What rules will the House use in televised hearings?</a>

Sondland's testimony will come a day after Republicans struggled to defend&nbsp;Trump&nbsp;against mounting allegations of abuse of power and charges that he sought to "extort" Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky.

During nine hours of testimony Tuesday, four witnesses described how&nbsp;Trump,&nbsp;Sondland&nbsp;and&nbsp;Trump's personal lawyer Rudy Giuliani sought for months to persuade Ukraine to investigate both Biden and a baseless claim that the Kiev government helped Democrats in the 2016 US elections.

Lieutenant Colonel Alexander Vindman, a respected member of the White House National Security Council, told the committee that&nbsp;Trump's July 25 phone call with Zelensky, seeking a "favor" to investigate Biden and the vague 2016 election meddling claim, was <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/top-white-house-ukraine-expert-says-trump-request-for-biden-probe-was-improper-263232">"inappropriate," "improper"</a> and a "partisan play."

"Frankly I couldn't believe what I was hearing," Vindman said.&nbsp;

"It is improper for the president of the United States to demand a foreign government investigate a US citizen and a political opponent."&nbsp;

Sitting next to Vindman, Jennifer Williams, a foreign policy advisor to Vice President Mike Pence, said she too had doubts about the "unusual" July 25 call, which they both monitored from a separate room.

"The references to specific individuals and investigations such as former vice president Biden and his son, struck me as political in nature, given that the former vice president is a political opponent of the president," she told the panel.

Two other witnesses in a second session, former US special envoy to Ukraine Kurt Volker and National Security Council aide Tim Morrison, supported allegations the White House improperly sought the political assistance.

But both assigned more blame to an "irregular" diplomatic track in the hands of Giuliani and&nbsp;Sondland.

Volker said he worried about "conspiracy theories" that Giuliani "was conveying... to the president."&nbsp;

Also watch:&nbsp;US&nbsp;Ambassador Volker says he did not know Ukraine corruption probe was tied to Biden

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Morrison, who only took his position in mid-July, said his predecessor warned him of "the Gordon problem," referring to&nbsp;Sondland's Ukraine dealings away from standard US diplomatic channels.&nbsp;

Republicans and the White House continued to insist that the investigation, which could see&nbsp;Trump&nbsp;impeached possibly as soon as the end of the year, was a political witch hunt.

"We have learned nothing new in today's illegitimate 'impeachment&nbsp;proceedings,'" said White House Spokesperson Stephanie Grisham.

"Today we are witnessing the Ukraine hoax, the direct-to-TV sequel to the Russia collusion hoax," said Devin Nunes, the senior Republican on the Intelligence Committee.

But rather than confront the evidence, they turned to character attacks on the witnesses, including questioning the allegiance of Kiev-born Vindman, a 20-year US army veteran, to the United States.&nbsp;

Vindman, dressed in military uniform decorated with his Purple Heart and other commendations, countered that he had raised questions about the July 25 phone call "out of a sense of duty," and called Republicans attacks on public servants "reprehensible."

Sondland's appearance could generate fireworks. He is close to&nbsp;Trump, he was named ambassador to the EU in 2017 after donating $1 million to the president's inauguration festivities.

David Holmes, an official at the US embassy in Ukraine, told investigators last week that, after a phone call to&nbsp;Trump&nbsp;from a Kiev restaurant,&nbsp;Sondland&nbsp;said the president sought political benefits from the bilateral relationship.

Trump&nbsp;"did not give a shit about Ukraine," but cares about "big stuff that benefits the president, like the Biden investigation," Holmes testified.

Testimony like that could force&nbsp;Sondland&nbsp;into a difficult choice between protecting himself by giving evidence against&nbsp;Trump, or facing his own legal problems by refusing to answer questions.

The White House "should be deeply concerned about&nbsp;Sondland's testimony tomorrow," said University of Alabama Law Professor Joyce Vance.

A key actor in President Donald Trump's alleged effort to pressure Ukraine for dirt on his political rivals will be in the hot seat Wednesday as Democrats build their case for impeaching the US leader.

A key actor in President Donald Trump's alleged effort to pressure Ukraine for dirt on his political rivals will be in the hot seat Wednesday as Democrats build their case for impeaching the US leader. Numerous witnesses have fingered Gordon Sondland, the US ambassador to the European Union, as a central conveyor of Trump's demands that Ukraine investigate potential 2020 rival Joe Biden in exchange for unfreezing US aid to the country. In earlier closed-door testimony Sondland repeated almost 100 times that he "can't remember" and "can't recall" when pressed over his dealings with Trump and Ukraine. Initially maintaining that he was unaware that US military aid was being held up in exchange for a probe, he later made a humiliating about-face, amending his testimony to state that he did in fact know this was the case. In the second week of televised hearings in the House Intelligence Committee, the hotel tycoon-turned-diplomat is expected to be confronted with powerful evidence that could force him into refusing to answer, or dramatically testifying against the US leader. In Pictures: Trump impeachment: What rules will the House use in televised hearings? Sondland's testimony will come a day after Republicans struggled to defend Trump against mounting allegations of abuse of power and charges that he sought to "extort" Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky. During nine hours of testimony Tuesday, four witnesses described how Trump, Sondland and Trump's personal lawyer Rudy Giuliani sought for months to persuade Ukraine to investigate both Biden and a baseless claim that the Kiev government helped Democrats in the 2016 US elections. Lieutenant Colonel Alexander Vindman, a respected member of the White House National Security Council, told the committee that Trump's July 25 phone call with Zelensky, seeking a "favor" to investigate Biden and the vague 2016 election meddling claim, was "inappropriate," "improper" and a "partisan play." "Frankly I couldn't believe what I was hearing," Vindman said. "It is improper for the president of the United States to demand a foreign government investigate a US citizen and a political opponent." Sitting next to Vindman, Jennifer Williams, a foreign policy advisor to Vice President Mike Pence, said she too had doubts about the "unusual" July 25 call, which they both monitored from a separate room. "The references to specific individuals and investigations such as former vice president Biden and his son, struck me as political in nature, given that the former vice president is a political opponent of the president," she told the panel. Two other witnesses in a second session, former US special envoy to Ukraine Kurt Volker and National Security Council aide Tim Morrison, supported allegations the White House improperly sought the political assistance. But both assigned more blame to an "irregular" diplomatic track in the hands of Giuliani and Sondland. Volker said he worried about "conspiracy theories" that Giuliani "was conveying... to the president." Also watch: US Ambassador Volker says he did not know Ukraine corruption probe was tied to Biden × Morrison, who only took his position in mid-July, said his predecessor warned him of "the Gordon problem," referring to Sondland's Ukraine dealings away from standard US diplomatic channels. Republicans and the White House continued to insist that the investigation, which could see Trump impeached possibly as soon as the end of the year, was a political witch hunt. "We have learned nothing new in today's illegitimate 'impeachment proceedings,'" said White House Spokesperson Stephanie Grisham. "Today we are witnessing the Ukraine hoax, the direct-to-TV sequel to the Russia collusion hoax," said Devin Nunes, the senior Republican on the Intelligence Committee. But rather than confront the evidence, they turned to character attacks on the witnesses, including questioning the allegiance of Kiev-born Vindman, a 20-year US army veteran, to the United States. Vindman, dressed in military uniform decorated with his Purple Heart and other commendations, countered that he had raised questions about the July 25 phone call "out of a sense of duty," and called Republicans attacks on public servants "reprehensible." Sondland's appearance could generate fireworks. He is close to Trump, he was named ambassador to the EU in 2017 after donating $1 million to the president's inauguration festivities. David Holmes, an official at the US embassy in Ukraine, told investigators last week that, after a phone call to Trump from a Kiev restaurant, Sondland said the president sought political benefits from the bilateral relationship. Trump "did not give a shit about Ukraine," but cares about "big stuff that benefits the president, like the Biden investigation," Holmes testified. Testimony like that could force Sondland into a difficult choice between protecting himself by giving evidence against Trump, or facing his own legal problems by refusing to answer questions. The White House "should be deeply concerned about Sondland's testimony tomorrow," said University of Alabama Law Professor Joyce Vance.

Trump emissary Sondland to speak at impeachment hearings

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Two days after his acquittal, Trump ousts two star impeachment witnesses

Trump emissary Sondland to speak at impeachment hearings