Purple Heart colonel told impeachment inquiry there WAS a quid pro quo linking military aid to a Biden probe - and that Donald Trump was taking Ukraine advice from a Republican loyalist who knew little about country

White House Ukraine expert Alexander Vindman told lawmakers he became convinced that President Trump was personally holding up $400 million in aid for Ukraine to force the country into announcing that it was investigating 2020 presidential hopeful Joe Biden and his son.

CNN reported Wednesday that Vindman, who sat down for a deposition on Capitol Hill Tuesday, was convinced that a quid pro quo existed by July 10, which was before the now-infamous July 25 call between Trump and Ukranian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

Vindman also told lawmakers, according to Politico, that he planned to debrief Trump on Zelenksy's May inauguration, but was instructed 'at the last second' not to attend because advisers worried it might confuse the president.

Trump, Vindman said, was under the impression that the National Security Council's top Ukraine expert was Kash Patel, a longtime staffer of Rep. Devin Nunes, the Intelligence Committee's top Republican.