“We’re talking about decorated veterans who’ve served this nation, who’ve put their lives on the line, and it’s shameful to question their patriotism, their love of this nation, and we shouldn’t be involved in that process,” Representative Liz Cheney of Wyoming, the third-ranking Republican, told reporters, unprompted at a morning news conference.
Within hours after Colonel Vindman’s damaging account of Mr. Trump’s dealings with Ukraine became public on Tuesday night, the president’s allies in the conservative news media began disparaging him, with some suggesting that he was a spy loyal to his native Ukraine, not the United States.
The Fox News anchor Laura Ingraham said during her broadcast on Monday night that Colonel Vindman was working inside the White House, “apparently against the president’s interest,” noting that he spoke Ukrainian. John Yoo, who worked in the White House Counsel’s Office under George W. Bush, agreed with Ms. Ingraham that the situation was “astounding,” adding, “some people might call that espionage.”
Brian Kilmeade, who hosts Fox & Friends, one of Mr. Trump’s favorite shows, said Tuesday morning of Colonel Vindman: “We also know he was born in the Soviet Union, emigrated with his family. Young. He tends to feel simpatico with the Ukraine.”
Sean P. Duffy, a former Republican representative from Wisconsin and pro-Trump commentator, also questioned Colonel Vindman’s loyalties, saying Tuesday during an appearance on CNN: “It seems very clear that he is incredibly concerned about Ukrainian defense — I don’t know that he’s concerned about American policy.”
“We all have an affinity to our homeland where we came from,” Mr. Duffy added.
Later on Twitter, Mr. Duffy appeared to walk back his remarks, praising Colonel Vindman’s service.
“Lt. Col. Vindman is an American war hero,” he wrote, adding, “My point is that Mr. Vindman is an unelected advisor, he gives ADVICE. President Trump sets the policy.”
