We conducted this investigation in response to a complaint filed with the DoD Hotline on August 18, 2020, alleging that various administration officials, including former President Donald J. Trump, took actions against Lieutenant Colonel (LTC) YevgenyVindman (the Complainant), U.S. Army, while he was serving at the National Security Council (NSC), Washington, D.C., in reprisal for his protected communications.
We found, based on a preponderance of the evidence, that the Complainant was the subject of unfavorable personnel actions from administration officials, as defined by section 1034, title 10, United States Code (10 U.S.C. § 1034), “Protected communications; prohibition of retaliatory personnel actions.” Furthermore, we concluded, based on a preponderance of the evidence, that these actions would not have occurred or been withheld absent the Complainant’s protected communications.