Army Lieutenant Colonel Alexander Vindman, a military officer at the National Security Council, center, arrives on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, Oct. 29, 2019, to appear before a House Committee on Foreign Affairs, Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, and Committee on Oversight and Reform joint interview with the transcript to be part of the impeachment inquiry into President Donald Trump. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta)

This was long overdue, although I understand why the President had to wait.

Alexander Vindman, perhaps the most insufferable, uselessly smug “witness” in the entire impeachment fiasco was fired from the NSC today and escorted out of the White House.

News — Lt. Col. Vindman was just escorted out of the White House by security and told his services were no longer needed.

— Kaitlan Collins (@kaitlancollins) February 7, 2020

Vindman spent most of the time before and during his impeachment testimony fluffing his credentials, lauding his own patriotism, and presenting himself as the arbiter of U.S. policy toward Ukraine. But his complaints really boiled down the fact that he didn’t like the President actually making foreign policy decisions. He offered nothing of value as far as an impeachable offense went and really had no first hand knowledge of anything.

What Vindman did do was share information with Eric Ciaramella, and likely illegally as it was classified at a very high level. Perhaps a court martial is in his future? I don’t know, but I suspect this isn’t the end of this.

Pearls are already being clutched.

.@SpeakerPelosi re Vindman: “I’m stunned by it. Stunned. I’ll talk to my colleagues about this because I know they have some concern about the interventions that the president has with our military. That’s such a shame. What a patriotic person. This goes too far.”

— Haley Talbot (@haleytalbotnbc) February 7, 2020

Trump’s retaliation against LTC Vindman is more than just petty revenge.

He is clearing out someone who he knows will hold him accountable for future criminality while simultaneously sending a message to others about the cost of doing what’s right.

— Jason Kander (@JasonKander) February 7, 2020

Maybe we could get another impeachment going?

The truth is that Vindman is not entitled to a place on the President’s staff and there’s simply noway he could remain after what he did. Good riddance.