Former national security adviser John Bolton has previously agreed to testify in front of the Senate. The Republicans certainly don't want to hear this from Bolton in public testimony. They also don't want to hear from Lev Parnas or his recordings of Trump.
Soon after Trump forced his ouster, Bolton told a Washington Post reporter, "I will have my say in due course. But I have given you the facts on the resignation. My sole concern is US national security." That "due course" line had an ominous ring to it. Apparently now is when Bolton decided it is time to share his thoughts with the public.
New York Times: Trump Tied Ukraine Aid to Inquiries He Sought, Bolton Book Says
WASHINGTON — President Trump told his national security adviser in August that he wanted to continue freezing $391 million in security assistance to Ukraine until officials there helped with investigations into Democrats including the Bidens, according to an unpublished manuscript by the former adviser, John R. Bolton.
The president's statement as described by Mr. Bolton could undercut a key element of his impeachment defense: that the holdup in aid was separate from Mr. Trump's requests that Ukraine announce investigations into his perceived enemies, including former Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr. and his son Hunter Biden, who had worked for a Ukrainian energy firm while his father was in office.
Mr. Bolton's explosive account of the matter at the center of Mr. Trump's impeachment trial, the third in American history, was included in drafts of a manuscript he has circulated in recent weeks to close associates. He also sent a draft to the White House for a standard review process for some current and former administration officials who write books.
Multiple people described Mr. Bolton's account of the Ukraine affair. (See link below. Subscription required)
John Bolton just gave Trump an advanced lesson in the art of the deal. Bolton destroyed Trump's claim that he didn't pressure the Ukrainians into smearing Joe Biden. Simultaneously Bolton made it a near certainty that his new book will be a best seller.
Who in this dispute is more credible? One person is willing to testify under oath. The other has made over 16,000 false and misleading claims according to fact checkers. See Trump's tweet of denial below.
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