What Went Down On Day 3 Of The Trump Impeachment Hearings

Yeah, Vindman really stepped up his language there, saying it was “improper” and “inappropriate” for the president to “demand” an investigation. He said that in military culture, rank and chain of command help underscore the importance of requests. Calling on that frame of mind, he said the “power disparity between the two leaders” made it clear the president’s words were more of a “demand.” I keep thinking how hard it must be, how weighty it is, for a man in uniform to give his thoughts related to the commander in chief.

Vindman isn’t the only witness to say he was concerned about what would happen if Trump’s request to Zelensky became public. Morrison, who is testifying this afternoon, said he wasn’t concerned that Trump had done something illegal — but he was worried about the implications for Ukraine policy if the call became public, specifically that aid to Ukraine could become a partisan issue.

Vindman is speaking like a normal person here — laying out why Trump was really giving an “order” to Zelensky to start investigations when he asked for a “favor.”