The top Republican on the House Armed Services Committee said Wednesday it would not be appropriate for the military to take disciplinary action on Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman Alexander VindmanImpeachment witness Alexander Vindman calls Trump Putin's 'useful idiot' The Hill's Morning Report - Sponsored by The Air Line Pilots Association - Trump, Biden renew push for Latino support Strzok: Trump behaving like an authoritarian MORE for his testimony during President Trump Donald John TrumpHR McMaster says president's policy to withdraw troops from Afghanistan is 'unwise' Cast of 'Parks and Rec' reunite for virtual town hall to address Wisconsin voters Biden says Trump should step down over coronavirus response MORE’s impeachment.

“His career needs to proceed based on his talents and abilities,” Rep. Mac Thornberry William (Mac) McClellan ThornberryTrump payroll-tax deferral for federal workers sparks backlash Overnight Defense: Woodward book causes new firestorm | Book says Trump lashed out at generals, told Woodward about secret weapons system | US withdrawing thousands of troops from Iraq Top Armed Services Republican 'dismayed' at Trump comments on military leaders MORE (R-Texas) told reporters about Vindman.

Pressed by The Hill if that means he thinks it would be inappropriate for the military to take disciplinary action against Vindman, Thornberry said, “based on his testimony before, yeah.”

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“My point is, treat him just like anybody else,” Thornberry added.

Thornberry was responding to comments President Trump made Tuesday.

Asked if the Pentagon should pursue further action against Vindman, Trump said it would be "up to the military."

"But if you look at what happened, they’re going to certainly, I would imagine, take a look at that," Trump said Tuesday in the Oval Office.

Vindman provided damaging testimony during the House’s impeachment inquiry into Trump’s dealings with Ukraine. The Senate ultimately acquitted Trump on charges of abuse of power and obstruction of Congress.

On Friday, Vindman and his twin brother, who did not testify during the impeachment process, were escorted from the White House, where they had been working as National Security Council staffers.

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An active-duty soldier, Vindman returned to the Army and is expected to be part of the Army War College’s summer class.

On Wednesday, Thornberry suggested it was Trump’s prerogative to remove Vindman from the NSC.

“The NSC staff is the president’s personal staff and if he wants to change somebody out that’s obviously his ability, and I think given the circumstance of this, it would obviously be uncomfortable,” Thornberry said.

Still, Thornberry said the “potential danger” of “any president” weighing in on military disciplinary issues is that career progress could be affected by something other than “objective factors.”

Thornberry also pointed to Defense Secretary Mark Esper Mark EsperTop admiral: 'No condition' where US should conduct nuclear test 'at this time' Overnight Defense: Trump hosts Israel, UAE, Bahrain for historic signing l Air Force reveals it secretly built and flew new fighter jet l Coronavirus creates delay in Pentagon research for alternative to 'forever chemicals' Oldest living US World War II veteran turns 111 MORE’s comments last week that suggested the Pentagon would not punish Vindman.

At a news conference Friday, Esper told reporters that “we protect all of our persons, service members, from retribution or anything like that. We’ve already addressed that in policy and other means.”

Thornberry said he’s “counting on” Esper to keep his word.

“I’m counting on Esper to do what he said, and that is ensure there is no retribution,” Thornberry said.

“And I guess the other part of that is that his future career will be judged just like any other service member, based on how well he performs,” he added.