Vindman's Wife Speaks Out for First Time Since Impeachment Trial; Trump Address Seniors with Just 18 Days to Go Until Election.
KEILAR: Retired Lieutenant Colonel Alexander Vindman received a Purple Heart for wounds that he suffered during his deployment to Iraq in 2004. In 2018, after almost two decades as an Army officer, he had been hand selected for a prestigious and demanding billet at the White House, handling the Ukraine portfolio on the president's foreign policy apparatus at the National Security Council. That assignment would end his decorated military career. Later, when "The Atlantic" published a story, confirmed by various other media outlets, that the president had called servicemembers killed in war, quote, "suckers and losers" and wondered aloud, quote, "What's in it for them," when he pondered military service. The Vindman's read it. President Trump has denied the story. But Rachel Vindman, who had watched all Alexander's military career derailed by a president who claims to love the military, says she has no doubt it is true.</s>VINDMAN: I felt sorry for him that he can't understand the beauty of service to others, of serving something more than himself. It is the privilege of my lifetime to be married to a military servicemember. I will always be proud to be an American. And I will always be proud to have been able to serve beside him. Obviously, we have friends who -- whose husbands have made the ultimate sacrifice. And to not understand why someone would do that, I feel sorry for him that he can't understand that.</s>KEILAR: How do you see President Trump's role in what happened to your husband and your family?</s>VINDMAN: He just continually put Alex's name out there. He seemed to be a little bit obsessed with it. He would, you know, continually remark on Vindman. And I think by constantly saying his name, by telegraphing it to his supporters, that he put -- he continued to put us in danger by continuing to say our name. I think he also, you know, ended Alex's military career by -- whether he directly asked that Alex not be promoted, that's probably not the case. But his enablers and the people around him knew that he would never find it acceptable if Alex were permitted to be promoted and have a normal career. So with or without the president asking for it, they decided to deliver it to him, which is something exactly that happens in authoritarian governments. We are choosing to be a country that celebrates white nationalists, that we are a country that celebrates division, and is OK with it. And I don't think that's who the United States is. I don't think that's what the people want. And I think we're seeing that. Four more years is, you know, kind of full authoritarianism. I think that's what we're going to see, not authoritarianism-lite. I think it is people giving up their rights -- I'm not sure why -- but giving up their rights and freedoms.</s>KEILAR: You guys have had hard times. You had a child who did not survive passed a week. And I was wondering if you would talk a little bit about that.</s>VINDMAN: My daughter was born at 24 weeks, three days gestation. A week later, she passed away. And we hadn't been able to hold her during -- because she was such a micro preemie. So when they held her and they gave her to us, Alex held her because I had carried her. So he held her as she took her last breaths. And then Alex, after that, the huge burden, Alex had to carry me for two years until I could be a normal person again. That was the hardest thing any couple will go through, to lose a child. That's why, through all this, I know who he is because I know what he's been through and what has made him who he is. During this time, also, I lost both my parents in a very short time after losing our daughter, Sara (ph). And he would never stop what he was doing to be with me to help me. Like a normal spouse. I guess that's normal. But he's always my partner and my cheerleader. And I knew that whatever we went through with this wouldn't hold a candle to that -- those tough times. And I also always knew that he would do the right thing. That's, you know, something that we also want in our leaders. You know, leadership, to have leaders with values.</s>VINDMAN: There's one call no military spouse ever wants to get. For me that call came in October 2004 when I heard a voice telling me Alex had been injured by a roadside bomb.</s>LT. COL. ANDREW VINDMAN, FORMER NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL MEMBER: The last time you saw me was here. Dad, do not worry. I will be fine for telling the truth.</s>VINDMAN: The first time I felt threatened was just after Alex's testimony.</s>KAYLEIGH MCENANY, WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY: The colonel, I'm not going to focus or comment on a former junior employee.</s>TRUMP: Well, I'm not happy with him. Well, we'll see. We'll see what happens.</s>VINDMAN: The most powerful man in the world came after our family. But what happened to us can happen to anyone. We received thousands of letters of support. America is so much better than Donald Trump. But he can cause this nation so much more with four more years.</s>LT. COL. VINDMAN: This is America. This is the country I have served and defended. Here right matters.</s>VINDMAN: I'm sure a lot of people are wondering why I am speaking out now and why I have chosen a visible role. And I will say, it's not something that Alex finds -- he's not excited about it. But to me, if I have voice, even if it's a small voice, I think everyone should do their part for this election, and this feels like something I can do. And that's why. I know it's opening myself up to exposure, probably to criticism, but that's OK because we're going to be OK. But as a country, I think everyone owes it, in these last three weeks, to do everything they can to make sure their voice is heard. I don't even care if you are on the other side. Just don't become complacent. I mean, get out there and make it all matter and make it count. I mean, this is a democracy. And we have such a privilege. So many people in the world, they either can't vote or they vote and their voice -- their votes never count. But we have that privilege here. And I think everyone should get out and use whatever voice they have and make it matter. I'm not worried about the future because Alex's father came here in his 40s. He didn't speak English. He had $450 and three little boys and a mother-in-law who didn't like him very much. And he learned English and was able to get a job and, you know, provide for his family. And that's still the United States that I live in. That opportunity still exists. And I'm not worried about our future because I know, no matter what, we'll make it work.</s>KEILAR: Retired Lieutenant Colonel Vindman is currently pursuing a doctorate degree as the Vindman family is adjusting to their new life outside of the military. Next, we have some breaking news. CNN reporting that U.S. officials are investigating whether e-mails surfacing are tied to a Russian misinformation campaign against the Bidens. And this involves Rudy Giuliani. Plus, singer, Christopher Cross, says COVID paralyzed him. And a former QAnon conspiracy supporter reveals why he stopped believing.