Why it Matters: Bolton revelations complicate Trump defense

Why it Matters: Bolton revelations complicate Trump defenseRevelations from former national security adviser John Bolton’s upcoming book are adding some drama to the ongoing Senate impeachment trial of President Donald Trump. Bolton, who was ousted from his post last year, writes in a book slated for publication in March that Trump told him he wanted to withhold military assistance from Ukraine unless it helped him with investigations into Democratic rival Joe Biden. Trump has long insisted that he did not nothing wrong in his phone calls with Ukraine’s president and that there was no link between the delay in distributing the aid and possible probes into Biden and his son.


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Senator Hawley Preparing Motions to Subpoena Schiff, Bidens, Whistleblower in Impeachment Trial

Senator Josh Hawley revealed he plans to draft motions to subpoena House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff, presidential candidate Joe Biden and his son Hunter, and the alleged ‘whistleblower.’

The move would be especially urgent due to new revelations that moderate Republican senators are threatening to join Democrats in their call for new witnesses in the impeachment trial.

“If the witness vote succeeds, Hawley aims to force votes on subpoenas for House Intelligence Chairman Schiff (D-Calif.), Vice President Biden, Hunter Biden, Intelligence Community Inspector General Michael Atkinson, the still-unnamed whistleblower,” Politico reported over the weekend.

“If the Senate calls witnesses, I will ask for votes on all these next week,” Hawley tweeted.

RELATED: Romney Says He’s ‘Very Likely’ to Join Democrats on Call For New Impeachment Witnesses

An Urgent Move

Hawley’s proposal is pivotal considering a New York Times report on suspiciously leaked manuscript details involving a book from former National Security Advisor John Bolton.

The report – from anonymous sources – indicates that Bolton accuses President Trump of withholding military aid to Ukraine until Joe Biden and his son Hunter were properly investigated.

While the media hit job smacks of a replay of that carried out against Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh, it is enough to cause weak-kneed senators to crumble and attempt to completely re-litigate the impeachment articles in the Senate.

Senator Mitt Romney (R-UT) has admitted, “I think it’s very likely I’ll be in favor of witnesses.”

Susan Collins, Senator from Maine, and Lisa Murkowski, Senator from Alaska, are also reportedly flaking. Meaning Democrats would need just one other Republican colleague to tuck their tail between their legs and join them in the impeachment hit job.

Should they succeed, Hawley’s measure would present the impeachment managers with a difficult double-edged sword, raising the specter that Schiff, Biden and the whistleblower could all be called to testify.

RELATED: Report: GOP Adding a ‘Kill Switch’ Option to Prevent Democrats From Turning Impeachment Into Circus

Activate the Kill Switch

Last week, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell finalized rules for the impeachment trial, adding what some defined as a ‘kill switch’ in which the President’s legal team could either move to judgment or move to dismiss at a meaningful time.

The House failed to do their homework and call Bolton to testify in the first place. Bolton’s claims in a book he is setting up for online pre-order contradict the reality behind the transcripts of the telephone call. So, they’re not a game-changer by any stretch. That said, perhaps it’s time to implement the ‘kill switch.’

Seeing Schiff, the Biden’s, and the whistleblower dragged in to testify would be an interesting prospect sure, but the longer this gets dragged out, the longer Democrats and the media will have to continually manufacture new evidence – just as they did with Kavanaugh.

It’s time to stop the madness.

The post Senator Hawley Preparing Motions to Subpoena Schiff, Bidens, Whistleblower in Impeachment Trial appeared first on The Political Insider.

Schumer calls on Bolton to testify

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer is calling on John Bolton to testify at President Donald Trump's impeachment trial after the revelation that a draft of Bolton's book undercuts a key defense argument. (Jan. 27)

       
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Impeachment trial resumes with more of Trump’s lie-and-attack defense: Live coverage #1

White House counsel Pat Cipollone, Trump personal lawyer Jay Sekulow, and their whole crew are back to continue the opening arguments in the impeachment defense of Donald Trump. They gave a brief preview on Saturday, which was exactly what you’d expect: lies and attacks. They resume in the wake of reports that former national security adviser John Bolton’s book recounts a conversation with Donald Trump in which Trump explicitly tied military aid to Ukraine investigating his political opponents—exactly what Trump was impeached for—but it’s unlikely that will change the basic lie-and-attack strategy.

Monday, Jan 27, 2020 · 6:56:32 PM +00:00 · Barbara Morrill

Ongoing coverage can be found here.

Monday, Jan 27, 2020 · 6:13:48 PM +00:00 · Barbara Morrill

Trump attorney Jay Sekulow opens by saying they won’t address “allegations that are not based on evidentiary standards at all.” So, apparently not going to say the B(olton) word today. 

Monday, Jan 27, 2020 · 6:20:13 PM +00:00 · Barbara Morrill

White House lawyer, Ken Starr, noted expert on blow jobs and covering up sexual assault, is (very slowly) seeming to tell us that House Democrats are stinking liars because they don’t have to take an oath like their Senate colleagues did before they signed off on the cover-up.  

Monday, Jan 27, 2020 · 6:24:19 PM +00:00 · Barbara Morrill

Starr says we’re in the “age of impeachment.” (Note: there have been three presidents impeached in 200+ years.)

Monday, Jan 27, 2020 · 6:32:08 PM +00:00 · Barbara Morrill

Yeah, this is today’s argument. There are too many impeachments. And, uh, that’s about it. 

Monday, Jan 27, 2020 · 6:36:11 PM +00:00 · Laura Clawson

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Monday, Jan 27, 2020 · 6:37:33 PM +00:00 · Barbara Morrill

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Monday, Jan 27, 2020 · 6:50:53 PM +00:00 · Joan McCarter

So, just to be clear, Starr is arguing that Clinton was charged with “actual crimes” and Trump isn’t. So lying about a consensual affair is a crime but a president trying to fix a presidential election is not.

Trump news: Ken Starr blasted for hypocrisy for bemoaning 'political impeachment' as key Republicans signal they could turn on president

Trump news: Ken Starr blasted for hypocrisy for bemoaning 'political impeachment' as key Republicans signal they could turn on presidentTwenty years after leading the impeachment efforts against Bill Clinton, Ken Starr made his debut on the Senate floor in defence of Donald Trump, while two Republican senators admit that John Bolton's testimony is becoming "increasingly likely" following bombshell revelations in the former national security chief's book.The president reacted angrily after the manuscript Mr Bolton's book was leaked in which the former aide claims the president told him the decision to withhold military assistance to Ukraine last summer was explicitly tied to demands for an investigation into Joe Biden.


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