Impeachment witnesses ousted amid fears of Trump revenge campaign

https://www.politico.com/news/2020/02/07/donald-trump-pressure-impeachment-witness-alexander-vindman-111997

Sondland, the U.S. Ambassador to the European Union — "effective immediately," the ambassador noted in a statement. Hours earlier, the White House escorted out Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman, the top Ukraine policy officer on the National Security Counsel — along with his twin brother Yevgeny, who was not an impeachment witness.

The succession of personnel moves came amid a promise of "payback" by White House officials against those who testified or played a role in the impeachment of the president. Trump has spent the two days since his acquittal by the Senate railing against his perceived enemies. He slammed Sens. Mitt Romney and Joe Manchin earlier Friday for their votes to convict him, and he retweeted calls by his allies to exact revenge on his opponents, including the Democratic lawmakers who led the drive against him.

After voting to acquit Trump, some GOP senators said they believed Trump would be chastened and exercise caution in the future — a notion he quickly refuted, insisting that he had acted "perfectly" in every respect. Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine), one of those lawmakers, said she would oppose any retaliation against witnesses who cooperated with the House.