Bolton claims add pressure to growing calls for witness testimony at Senate impeachment trial

The New York Times report on John Bolton’s manuscript indicates the former national security adviser claims President Trump directly tied Ukraine aid to an announcement about an investigation into the Bidens; chief congressional correspondent Mike Emanuel reports from Capitol Hill.

It would take four GOP defectors to join with all Democrats to get the 51 votes necessary to force new witnesses to the trial. Romney and Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, have long spoken favorably of witnesses once the first phase of the trial is completed – likely by Friday.

Sens. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, and Lamar Alexander, R-Tenn., have also expressed an openness to considering witnesses, while Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has pressed for a swift trial and vote to acquit.

The urgency to get Bolton to the Senate trial comes after the New York Times reported that Bolton’s manuscript included a claim that Trump explicitly linked a hold on Ukraine aid to an investigation of Joe and Hunter Biden. Trump told Bolton in August, according to a transcript of Bolton’s forthcoming book reviewed by the Times, «that he wanted to continue freezing $391 million in security assistance to Ukraine until officials there helped with investigations into Democrats including the Bidens.»

Some Republicans, for their part, have called for both Bidens and the unnamed whistleblower to show up at trial, too, if the Senate votes for witnesses. Leading Democrats, however, have quashed talk of a potential swap saying the Bidens are not relevant witnesses to the two underlying articles of impeachment — abuse of power and obstruction of Congress. A senior Democratic official working on the impeachment trial said Tuesday they won’t subject the Bidens to an «irrelevant smear campaign.»

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But Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, has said Hunter Biden’s testimony is “relevant” and Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., said Biden’s son is a “material witness.»

One potential off-ramp is getting ahold of Bolton’s manuscript without actually calling the man himself to testify before the Senate. Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., said he’ll seek to get a copy of the unpublished book. Sen. James Lankford, R-Okla., said in a Facebook video that senators should be given access to the manuscript.

“I think getting that information first-hand would be really important for us,” said Lankford, who also urged Bolton to speak out publicly. «…There’s plenty of microphones all over the country that he should step forward and start talking about it right now.”

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But Romney is stuck on seeing Bolton testify. Asked if he’d be satisfied with just the manuscript, the former GOP presidential nominee said, “I’d like to hear from Mr. Bolton.”

Democrats view Bolton’s testimony as instrumental in making their case that Trump abused his power for personal gain and providing the necessary first-hand knowledge of a quid pro quo. Bolton declined to show up for the House impeachment inquiry but said he’d comply with a Senate subpoena.

Trump has denied Bolton’s allegations and accused Bolton of just trying to peddle a book. His lawyers argued if Bolton’s allegations are true, it’s still not impeachable conduct because there is no underlying crime.