John Bolton Adds a Wrinkle to Senate Impeachment Trial

Former top Trump aide says he will testify if subpoenaed
By John Johnson,  Newser Staff
Posted Jan 6, 2020 12:16 PM CST
John Bolton Adds a Wrinkle to Senate Impeachment Trial
Former Trump national security adviser John Bolton.   (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

A surprise development in the Senate's coming impeachment trial: John Bolton says he will testify if asked. The big question, though, is whether Mitch McConnell, who has previously rejected the idea of calling new witnesses, will ask him to do so. Bolton left his post as President Trump's national security adviser in September, and he did not testify in the House impeachment proceedings. At the time, Bolton said he wanted a court to rule on whether a former top White House official such as himself could be compelled to do so, reports the Hill. On Monday, however, Bolton said it was clear that no such court ruling would come before the Senate trial. Therefore, he made the decision himself.

“I have had to resolve the serious competing issues as best I could, based on careful consideration and study," Bolton writes in a statement. "I have concluded that, if the Senate issues a subpoena for my testimony, I am prepared to testify." Bolton would be the highest-ranking Trump official to do so, and the Washington Post notes that his testimony about the Ukraine situation could be damaging to the president. No word yet on the possibility of such a subpoena. The Senate is still waiting for Nancy Pelosi to formally submit the two articles of impeachment passed by the House. (Lindsey Graham, for one, is getting impatient.)

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