John Bolton willing to testify if subpoenaed by Senate
If John Bolton testifies, he’ll be the most important witness to the Ukraine controversy that led to Donald Trump’s impeachment.
Former National Security adviser John Bolton has declared he is willing to testify at the forthcoming impeachment trial if subpoenaed by the Senate.
If Mr Bolton testified, he would be the most central and important witness yet to the Ukraine controversy that led to Donald Trump’s impeachment by the House of Representatives. Mr Bolton, who was sacked by Donald Trump last September, was reportedly strongly opposed to the White House’s actions in relation to Ukraine and any testimony from him has the potential to be damaging to the president.
But there is no guarantee that the Republican-controlled Senate would subpoena Mr Bolton to testify. If Republican majority leader Mitch McConnell opposed issuing a subpoena, it would require four Republicans to cross the floor and vote with Democrats to overturn the decision.
Mr Bolton, who did not testify in the House impeachment hearing, has reversed his previous claim that he would be guided by the courts on whether to testify, because he said “a final judicial resolution” was now unlikely before a Senate trial was held.
“Accordingly, since my testimony is once again at issue, I have had to resolve the serious competing issues as best I could, based on careful consideration and study,” Mr Bolton said. “I have concluded that, if the Senate issues a subpoena for my testimony, I am prepared to testify.”
Mr Bolton did not say how he would respond if the Democrat-controlled House – which has already impeached the president – now tried to subpoena him for a House hearing.
Democrats immediately pounced on Mr Bolton’s statement, saying any Republican efforts to prevent a subpoena for Mr Bolton in the Senate trial would amount to a “cover up.”
Senate minority leader Chuck Schumer said Mr Bolton’s statement provided “a momentum for uncovering the truth.”
“It is now up to four Senate Republicans to support bringing in Mr Bolton, and the other three witnesses, as well as the key documents we have requested to ensure all the evidence is presented at the onset of a Senate trial,” Mr Schumer said.
“Given that Mr. Bolton’s lawyers have stated he has new relevant information to share, if any Senate Republican opposes issuing subpoenas to the four witnesses and documents we have requested, they would make absolutely clear they are participating in a cover up.”
Testimony given during the House impeachment inquiry claimed that Mr Bolton exploded in frustration after a White House meeting in July in which the US ambassador to the EU Gordon Sondland discussed pressing Ukrainian officials to open an investigation into Mr Trump’s political opponent Joe Biden.
Mr Bolton is said to have described the discussions as a “drug deal” and instructed the then White House Russian Affairs director Fiona Hill to report what she saw at the meeting to National Security Council lawyers.
Democrats have been desperate to secure Mr Bolton’s testimony after they sought and failed to compel key witnesses such as acting White House Chief of Staff Mick Mulvaney to appear at House impeachment hearings.
Mr Trump and Republicans have been highly critical of Democrats for impeding the start of the impeachment trial by refusing to send the articles of impeachment to the Senate.
The president called on Tuesday (AEDT) for a speedy end to the impeachment process.
“The Impeachment Hoax, just a continuation of the Witch Hunt which started even before I won the Election, must end quickly,” Mr Trump tweeted.
The Impeachment Hoax, just a continuation of the Witch Hunt which started even before I won the Election, must end quickly. Read the Transcripts, see the Ukrainian President’s strong statement, NO PRESSURE - get this done. It is a con game by the Dems to help with the Election!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 6, 2020
The president had initially wanted a draw out Senate trial with new witnesses but has since agreed with Mr McConnell that a short speedy trial with no new witnesses is the best political strategy. The Republican controlled Senate will almost certainly vote to acquit Mr Trump after his impeachment by the house last month.
Cameron Stewart is also US Contributor for Sky News Australia
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