Lt. Col. Yevgeny "Eugene" Vindman, an Army officer who was fired by the Trump White House, has said Trump's former national adviser Michael Flynn could face a court-martial over his remark that a Myanmar-like military coup "should happen" in the U.S.
"I want to know why what happened in Myanmar can't happen here?" an attendee asked Flynn during a Q&A session at a conference called the "For God & Country Patriot Roundup" in Dallas, Texas, on Sunday.
"No reason. I mean, it should happen here," Flynn responded, to cheers from the crowd.
With these seditious remarks Comrade Flynn may have crossed the line for recall to active duty and court-martial. As a JAG I’m qualified and also happy to prosecute this case. https://t.co/7gAM2TlG8D P.S. US mil would NEVER support this. We love America.
— Yevgeny (Eugene) Vindman (@YVindman) May 31, 2021
In a tweet on Monday, Vindman branded Flynn's remarks "seditious."
"With these seditious remarks Comrade Flynn may have crossed the line for recall to active duty and court-martial," he wrote on his personal Twitter account.
As a member of the U.S. Army's legal arm, Vindman said he was "qualified and also happy to prosecute this case."
He added: "P.S. US mil would NEVER support this. We love America." Vindman declined to comment further when contacted by Newsweek.
Steve Vladeck, a professor at the University of Texas School of Law, noted that Flynn is still subject to the Uniform Code of Military Justice as a retired Army officer.
"The constitutionality of jurisdiction over retirees for post-retirement offenses is something we're currently challenging in the Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces & the D.C. Circuit," he tweeted.
Yes, Flynn’s still subject to the Uniform Code of Military Justice as a retired Army officer. The constitutionality of jurisdiction over retirees for post-retirement offenses is something we’re currently challenging in the Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces & the D.C. Circuit. https://t.co/RQThYguIP1
— Steve Vladeck (@steve_vladeck) May 30, 2021
Flynn pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI about his dealings with Russia's ambassador before Trump took office, but was pardoned in the final months of Trump's presidency.
Vindman, on the other hand, was ousted from his role as the National Security Council's deputy legal advisor after he raised concerns about Trump's phone call with Ukraine's president in July 2019.
His twin brother Alexander Vindman, who also served on the NSC, was a key witness in the Democrats' impeachment inquiry into Trump's dealings with Ukraine.
Both brothers were fired from the NSC shortly after the Senate voted to acquit Trump following an impeachment trial and escorted out of the White House.
Alexander Vindman retired from the Army last year and said he had been subjected to a campaign of bullying and retaliation, but his brother stayed in the military.
Last summer, Yevgeny Vindman filed a federal complaint alleging he faced retaliation from Trump and White House officials for reporting the former president's actions. Politico reported in March that he is set to be promoted to full colonel, despite attempts by Trump loyalists to derail his career.
