Updated
United States President Donald Trump has axed two people who testified at the impeachment inquiry from their roles.
Key points:
- Mr Sondland said he had been recalled from his position as ambassador to the European Union
- Lieutenant Colonel Vindman said in his testimony he "couldn't believe" what he was hearing in regards to Mr Trump's call with Ukraine's President
- Mr Trump has denied reports that he planned to replace acting aide Mick Mulvaney, who was a central figure in the impeachment inquiry
US ambassador to the European Union Gordon Sondland said in a statement that Mr Trump intended to recall him from his post.
"I was advised today that the President intends to recall me effective immediately as United States Ambassador to the European Union," Sondland said.
Army Lieutenant Colonel Alexander Vindman has also been removed from his position as the White House's top Ukraine expert after he provided damaging testimony about Mr Trump during the impeachment process, Lieutenant Colonel Vindman's lawyer said.
Lieutenant Colonel Vindman was escorted out of the White House where he had worked on the National Security Council (NSC), lawyer David Pressman said in a statement, adding that the move was retribution for Lieutenant Colonel Vindman's testimony.
"There is no question in the mind of any American why this man's job is over, why this country now has one less soldier serving it at the White House. LTC Vindman was asked to leave for telling the truth," Mr Pressman said.
Lieutenant Colonel Vindman testified to the House of Representatives impeachment inquiry in November that Mr Trump made an improper demand of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in a July phone call that became the centrepiece of the probe of the Republican President.
Lieutenant Colonel Vindman told a Democratic-run committee "I couldn't believe what I was hearing" in the phone call.
Mr Trump asked Mr Zelensky to launch investigations into both Democratic rival Joe Biden and a widely debunked conspiracy theory that Ukraine, not Russia, was behind meddling in the 2016 US presidential election.
In that appearance, Lieutenant Colonel Vindman also downplayed concerns that he would suffer payback for speaking out.
"I will be fine for telling the truth," he said.A spokesman for the NSC declined to comment.
Mr Trump emerged victorious from his trial this week with a vote in the Senate, controlled by fellow Republicans who rejected abuse of power and obstruction of justice charges.
Asked earlier on Friday about media reports that he might remove Lieutenant Colonel Vindman, Mr Trump told reporters: "I'm not happy with him. You think I'm supposed to be happy with him? … they're going to be making that decision."
A source familiar with the situation told Reuters that Lieutenant Colonel Vindman would be reassigned to the Defence Department.
Lieutenant Colonel Vindman's two-year stint at the White House was due to end in July.
US Defence Secretary Mark Esper said on Friday that the Pentagon protects all service members from retribution.
Mr Trump, who became only the third US president to be impeached, has said he is still bitter as he turns his attention to seeking a second four-year term in the November 3 presidential election.
Trump labels Vindman and Williams 'Never Trumpers'
Another senior White House aide who testified over impeachment, Jennifer Williams, left this week for a post at the US military's Central Command, according to Bloomberg News.
Mr Trump has cast both Lieutenant Colonel Vindman and Ms Williams as "Never Trumpers" who oppose him.
Mr Trump denied reports that he was weighing a permanent chief of staff to replace acting aide Mick Mulvaney, who was a central figure in the impeachment inquiry.
"That was a false report. I have a great relationship with Mick," Mr Trump said.
Democrats say Mr Trump pushed for the Ukraine investigations to undermine Mr Biden, a candidate to win the Democratic nomination for November's election.
Mr Trump said he wanted to help Ukraine fight corruption.
Mr Biden's presidential campaign suffered a serious setback when he came in fourth place at the Democrats' first state nominating contest in Iowa this week.
Senate Republicans have been investigating Hunter Biden, who served on the board of a Ukrainian gas company while his father, Joe, was US vice-president.
Senators Chuck Grassley and Ron Johnson have asked for the younger Biden's travel records while under official Secret Service protection, among other official records.
Democratic politicians say the Treasury Department has provided Congress with some financial records involving Hunter Biden.
Mr Trump had urged Ukraine to investigate both Bidens, though there has been no evidence of wrongdoing by either one.
Reuters
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