A Virginia Democrat House candidate known for his involvement in the first impeachment of President Donald Trump skipped out on a debate against his GOP opponent Tuesday night.
Titled, “Your Voice, Your Vote,” the forum hosted by a local ABC affiliate was intended to provide Democrat Eugene Vindman and Republican Derrick Anderson an opportunity to debate issues most pertinent to voters in Virginia’s 7th Congressional District. According to an event moderator, however, Vindman’s campaign repeatedly rejected attempts by the outlet to schedule his appearance at the debate, leading to his absence Tuesday night.
“Democratic candidate Eugene Vindman declined to participate this evening despite a month of working to find a date that worked for both campaigns,” ABC 7 News Anchor Scott Thuman said. “We provided multiple offers for him to change his mind, but so far, have received no response.”
As my colleague Beth Brelje previously reported, Vindman “worked at the [National Security Council] at the same time as his brother [Alexander Vindman], as a legal advisor focused on international partnerships, human rights, and ethics” and “became the NSCâs senior ethics official in the White House and was involved in bringing Trump impeachment charges forward.” His campaign is backed by left-wing organizations such as Moms Demand Action and VoteVets, as well as Giffords Courage to Fight Gun Violence, as indicated on his campaign site.
Before addressing economic pains impacting Va.-7 residents during the forum, Anderson blasted Vindman for dodging the debate and expressed hope that voters remember his unwillingness to discuss such issues “when they go out to the ballot box.” Early voting for the commonwealth’s November contest began last week.
“I’d like to ask [my opponent] tonight â if he was here â whether or not he thinks that he’s better off than he was four years ago, and I’d say that answer is no,” Anderson said after discussing economic issues facing the state.
Tuesday night’s intended debate came hours after polling, reportedly conducted on behalf of Anderson’s campaign, suggested the race is a “dead heat.” While polls are often used to shape public opinion rather than gauge it, the survey showed the two candidates tied at 43 percent support each, with 14 percent of likely voters still undecided.
The poll was conducted among 400 likely voters across the district from Sept. 15-17 and has a 5 percent margin of error. Va.-7 is considered one of the “most competitive” House districts in the country this November, according to the New York Times.
Vindman’s decision to duck Tuesday’s debate comes amid several controversies engulfing his candidacy.
His sister-in-law Rachel Vindman (Alexander’s wife) made headlines earlier this month after making light of the second assassination attempt against former President Trump, as The Federalist previously reported. Responding to the news, she initially wrote on X, “No ears were harmed. Carry on with your Sunday afternoon.”
She doubled down in subsequent posts, writing, “Sorry youâre triggered ⌠I mean no Iâm not. I donât care a little bit,” and, “Trump has been inciting violence against his enemies for years. He douses a situation in gasoline, lights a match, & walks away claiming no responsibility. Look at what is happening in Springfield, [Ohio] right now but he wants to claim heâs a victim. You cannot have it both ways.”
Rachel later reportedly retracted her statements while casting herself as a victim in the matter.
Eugene Vindman’s House bid has also been marred in recent weeks by campaign finance-related complaints alleging illegal coordination between VoteVets and his campaign.
The Washington Free Beacon reported last month that its questions about the Democrat candidate’s military service were redirected by the Vindman campaign to a VoteVets official, who the campaign reportedly said will handle “[a]ll future questions on this matter or any matters.” The Free Beacon said it was seeking answers regarding a “discrepancy” in which Vindman “says he ‘served our nation in combat,'” while a 2019 Daily Mail article “said he ‘has not seen combat.'”
The apparent coordination between the two entities raised concerns among election lawyers and ethics specialists that the relationship could constitute campaign finance violations, the Free Beacon reported.
The Virginia Democrat has also faced accusations of distorting his military rank, as detailed in The Independent.
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