Rep. Lee Zeldin (R-NY), one of the congressmen on President Trump's impeachment defense team, has no sympathy for Democrats who want John Bolton to testify. They had their chance to subpoena the former national security adviser during the House inquiry and didn't. But now that his leaked book manuscript appears to boost the Democrats' case for abuse of power, they are making it an urgent matter.
.@RepLeeZeldin says what we’re all thinking ??
— Jenny Beth Martin (@jennybethm) January 27, 2020
Now that the Democrats’ case is falling apart in the Senate, they want to hear from John Bolton.
But, we have “NO sympathy...because they never sent a subpoena to Bolton" when they had the chance.pic.twitter.com/yVzW22oakb
Zeldin reminded the press how Democrats dropped their subpoena against former Deputy National Security Advisor Charles Kupperman, an aide to Bolton who was one of the officials actually on the call Trump had with Ukrainian President Zelensky. He had challenged the subpoena in court but U.S. District Judge Richard Leon dismissed the case because the House suddenly withdrew the subpoena.
"When Judge Leon decided to have an expedited schedule to decide on the Charles Kupperman subpoena, remember Adam Schiff responded to that by losing interest in the Kupperman subpoena, withdrawing it, and then actually submitting a motion to dismiss to Judge Leon," Zeldin noted.
The Democrats proceeded with no subpoena to Bolton, because, Zeldin interpreted, they were in "a rush to impeach the president by Christmas and they might lose in court."
"I have no sympathy for Adam Schiff," he said in conclusion.
At no point of the House impeachment inquiry did Schiff ever subpoena Bolton.
— Lee Zeldin (@RepLeeZeldin) January 28, 2020
That was Schiff's play call to declare himself ready for trial when he clearly wasn't.
Now, he's complaining in the Senate about the many reasons why he can't prove his case.
That's on him.
Schiff, the Democrats' lead impeachment manager, is adamant that they did try to get Bolton to testify during the House inquiry. But again, no subpoena.
As for Bolton himself, he's told press that if subpoenaed during the Senate trial, he will cooperate and testify.
Zeldin is among a group of Republicans who argue that if Schiff gets his way and secures a Bolton testimony, then it's only fair the Senate also hear from Hunter Biden.