John Bolton confirmed Monday that he would appear before the Senate if he is subpoenaed to testify in the impeachment trial against Donald Trump.
‘[S]ince 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. I have concluded that, if the Senate issues a subpoena for my testimony, I am prepared to testify,’ Bolton said in a statement posted to his Political Action Committee website.
Trump’s ex-national security adviser, who parted ways with the administration on a sour note in September, revealed he would comply with Democrats who have expressed interest in his testimony.
Democratic Minority Leader Chuck Schumer revealed last month in a letter to Republican Majority Leader Mitch McConnell that he wants to hear from Bolton.
Donald Trump’s former national security adviser, John Bolton (pictured), said Monday he will comply with a congressional subpoena if the Senate compels him to testify in the impeachment trial
‘I have concluded that, if the Senate issues a subpoena for my testimony, I am prepared to testify,’ he said in a statement on his Political Action Committee website
Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (pictured) has expressed interest in subpoenaing Bolton to testify in a Senate impeachment hearing
Schumer said the former Trump official has ‘direct knowledge of Administration decisions’ that could help clear things up in the charges against the president.
He also said proposed having acting White House Chief of Staff Mick-Mulvaney, his adviser, Robert Blair and Office of Management and Budget official Michael Duffey testify.
Schumer released a statement Monday following Bolton’s comments.
‘Momentum for uncovering the truth in a Senate trial continues,’ Schumer said. ‘John Bolton correctly acknowledged that he needs to comply with a Senate subpoena to compel his testimony, if issued.’
The New York Democrat says its now up to a small group of Republicans in the Senate to support subpoenaing Bolton to make it happen.
‘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,’ Schumer continued in his statement.
The House voted last month, almost completely along party lines, to impeach Trump for two charges: abuse of power and obstruction of Congress.
‘During the present impeachment controversy, I have tried to meet my obligations both as a citizen and as former National Security Advisor,’ Bolton wrote in his statement.
He also mentioned in the statement the case with Charles Kupperman, who acted as Trump’s national security adviser for eight days between Bolton and the president’s new adviser, Robert O’Brien.
Kupperman faced a House subpoena for the impeachment proceedings, but was given a directive by the White House not to testify. The case ultimately got caught up in a legal battle and eventually the House committee withdrew the subpoena to stop the court from having jurisdiction over the case.
‘It now falls to the Senate to fulfill its Constitutional obligation to try impeachments, and it does not appear possible that a final judicial resolution of the still-unanswered Constitutional questions can be obtained before the Senate acts,’ Bolton said.
McConnell and other Republicans in the Senate do not even want to have a trial with witnesses.
Republican Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (pictured) has said he doesn’t want to hold a lengthy trial with witnesses, and instead wants to move the matter through the Senate swiftly
Instead, they have claimed they want to go off of House testimony to move the trial quickly through the Senate – where the president will surely be acquitted by the Republican-controlled chamber.
Bolton’s ousting was announced by the president via Twitter in September.
‘I informed John Bolton last night that his services are no longer needed at the White House,’ Trump tweeted September 10. ‘I disagreed strongly with many of his suggestions, as did others in the Administration, and therefore I asked John for his resignation, which was given to me this morning. I thank John very much for his service.’
A few days after departing from the White House, Bolton returned to his post as head of both the John Bolton PAC and John Bolton Super PAC.
He also still periodically weighs in on foreign policy matters, especially Trump’s strategy regarding North Korea.