Democrats are renewing calls for John Bolton to testify after The New York Times published a report about an excerpt from the former national security adviser’s forthcoming book, which claims President Trump tied Ukraine aid to officials helping investigate the Bidens.
"John Bolton has the evidence," Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said in a tweet. "It’s up to four Senate Republicans to ensure that John Bolton, Mick Mulvaney, and the others with direct knowledge of President Trump’s actions testify in the Senate trial."
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said Republican senators now have a choice between "our Constitution or a cover-up."
"Amb. Bolton reportedly heard directly from Trump that aid for Ukraine was tied to political investigations. The refusal of the Senate to call for him, other relevant witnesses, and documents is now even more indefensible," Pelosi tweeted.
In a joint statement, House impeachment managers said the revelation further highlights the need for Bolton to be called as a witness.
"Senators should insist that Mr. Bolton be called as a witness, and provide his notes and other relevant documents. The Senate trial must seek the full truth and Mr. Bolton has vital information to provide," the House managers said.
"There is no defensible reason to wait until his book is published, when the information he has to offer is critical to the most important decision Senators must now make — whether to convict the President of impeachable offenses," they continued.
House impeachment managers statement on @nytimes reporting on John Bolton:
— House Intelligence Committee (@HouseIntel) January 27, 2020
"...no doubt now that Mr. Bolton directly contradicts the heart of the President’s defense and therefore must be called as a witness at the impeachment trial of President Trump."https://t.co/gsl4CBL1Dv pic.twitter.com/9dadILMhwr
President Trump and other Republicans argued the timing of the "bombshell" report has more to do with increasing book sales.
I NEVER told John Bolton that the aid to Ukraine was tied to investigations into Democrats, including the Bidens. In fact, he never complained about this at the time of his very public termination. If John Bolton said this, it was only to sell a book. With that being said, the...
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 27, 2020
...transcripts of my calls with President Zelensky are all the proof that is needed, in addition to the fact that President Zelensky & the Foreign Minister of Ukraine said there was no pressure and no problems. Additionally, I met with President Zelensky at the United Nations...
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 27, 2020
...(Democrats said I never met) and released the military aid to Ukraine without any conditions or investigations - and far ahead of schedule. I also allowed Ukraine to purchase Javelin anti-tank missiles. My Administration has done far more than the previous Administration.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 27, 2020
The Democrat controlled House never even asked John Bolton to testify. It is up to them, not up to the Senate!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 27, 2020
This is obviously book promo coordinated with compliant media, yes. But an additional word of skepticism: these *particular* folks have a pattern of overpromising and underachieving with their "bombshell" anti-Trump book roll outs. https://t.co/xid14bUvmG
— Mollie (@MZHemingway) January 27, 2020
Gaetz on #Bolton rpt: “No human being is ever in a more hyperbolic state than when they are pitching a book deal...He’s negotiating the size of his advance. Ppl make the boldest claims in the starkest terms to try to juice that advanced number. I don’t make much of this."
— Leah Barkoukis (@LeahBarkoukis) January 27, 2020
Team John Bolton is attempting to convince you, the potential buyer of his memoir, that he had nothing to do w/ leaks to the press. & oh by the way it was just a shocking coincidence his book's Amazon pg went live simultaneously.
— Jordan Schachtel (@JordanSchachtel) January 27, 2020
TBH it doesn't seem like he respects you at all.