It’s “increasingly likely” that more Republicans will join calls to seek testimony from John Bolton in President Donald Trump’s impeachment trial, Sen. Mitt Romney said on Monday, with Bolton’s new revelations throwing into doubt how Trump’s trial will proceed.
Just days ago, the Senate GOP appeared ready to defeat a vote to hear more witnesses sought by Democrats. But that dynamic appears shaken after Trump’s former national security adviser revealed in an upcoming book that the president allegedly told him directly that he withheld aid to Ukraine because he wanted the country to investigate his political rivals.
Senior Republicans and Democrats alike are unsure whether the president will still get a quick acquittal with no new witnesses before week’s end.
“It’s increasingly likely that other Republicans will join those of us who think we should hear from John Bolton. … I have spoken with others who have opined upon this,” Romney (R-Utah) told reporters. “It’s important to be able to hear from John Bolton for us to be able to make an impartial judgement.”
Romney added the caveat that he would still need to hear from the White House to make a final decision on whether to consider new witnesses, but he’s said all along that he wants to hear from Bolton. He also said he could not say that Bolton’s testimony would determine whether he ultimately votes to acquit Trump or not.
“It’s fair to say John Bolton has relevant testimony to provide to those of us who are sitting in impartial justice,” he added. “I can’t begin to tell you how John Bolton’s testimony would ultimately play on a final decision. But it’s relevant and I’d like to hear it.”
At least four Republicans would need to join with all Democrats to advance the question of whether to seek new evidence and hear from witnesses. Senate Republicans are expected to discuss the news of Bolton’s conversation with Trump, reported by the New York Times, at a party lunch later Monday.
Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) another key swing vote, also reiterated the need for new testimony. When asked if she’d vote to bring in Bolton, Collins noted that she ensured that Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell’s resolution setting up the framework for the Senate impeachment trial guaranteed there would be a vote on witnesses.
“I’ve said that since the very beginning, I think the issue’s going to be a matter of who and how many and, but I’ve always wanted to have the opportunity for witnesses,” Collins said. “I tend to think witnesses are helpful. And this case is no exception.”
Democrats have made a consistent push since the start of the trial to subpoena Bolton, along with acting White House chief of staff Mick Mulvaney. Until Sunday evening, however, it seemed that Trump was on a glide path to acquittal by the end of the week.
But now Senate Republicans are sure to face more pressure to justify why they don’t want to hear from Bolton, who heard directly from Trump.
Bolton’s claims undercut a key argument of Trump’s defense, which will hold its second day of opening arguments on Monday afternoon.
Source: https://www.politico.com/news/2020/01/27/mitt-romney-john-bolton-senate-impeachment-trial-witnesses-106103
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