Bolton Will Testify If Subpoenaed | Talking Points Memo

discobot · January 6, 2020, 4:57pm

Former National Security Adviser John Bolton announced Monday that he will testify in the Senate impeachment trial if he’s subpoenaed.

This is a companion discussion topic for the original entry at https://talkingpointsmemo.com/?p=1282863

musgrove · January 6, 2020, 5:00pm

Didn’t know that Senate subpoenas were more legally acceptable then the Houses.

exspectator · January 6, 2020, 5:03pm

Huh. Serious escalation with Iran and now the biggest Iran hawk of all agrees to testify. Not saying the two are connected, but a pretty significant coincidence here.

dougsanders · January 6, 2020, 5:03pm

Well, let’s give the walrus some paper … stat.

jonney_5 · January 6, 2020, 5:03pm

It really inevitably comes back to IOKIYAR on most things.

becca656 · January 6, 2020, 5:04pm

He says that now. Wait until the subpoena is brought forward and see what he does with reality. All conjecture and theory now.

jonney_5 · January 6, 2020, 5:04pm

I think it has more to do with his upcoming book.

demosthenes59 · January 6, 2020, 5:04pm

Bolton is playing games. He knows Moscow Mitch doesn’t want a real hearing or a sham one at best.

The House should immediately enforce their subpoena. Bolton now has no legal claim to refuse to show up.

steviedee111 · January 6, 2020, 5:04pm

“If subpoenaed”. That’s the catch. McConnell will not approve a subpoena, and failing to get 51 votes to override him means Bolton doesn’t appear,.

generalsternwood · January 6, 2020, 5:06pm

That would make the decision to kill an Iranian general part of a domestic political quid pro quo. Hard to believe but with this White House definitely not impossible.

erik_t · January 6, 2020, 5:06pm

“Donald, you gave me my war, and I’m going to fuck you anyway”

Bad negotiator (or sick)

danny · January 6, 2020, 5:07pm

Doesn’t this sweeten the pot for the would-be breakaway Republican senators to vote in favor of witnesses?

steviedee111 · January 6, 2020, 5:09pm

No.

That is all.

1american · January 6, 2020, 5:09pm

If possible then the House Intelligence committee should subpoena him for a special hearing. Since a subpoena will never happen from McConnell.

uneducated · January 6, 2020, 5:09pm

He is just pissed that it was not him who got to kill an Iranian.

phillydave · January 6, 2020, 5:10pm

Exactly. He’s the saddest chickenhawk on the planet right now.

zillacop · January 6, 2020, 5:11pm

Guess he’s counting on having his book out before then so he won’t give away any “secrets”.

dicktater · January 6, 2020, 5:14pm

Then Pelosi needs to suspend the Articles right now pending some upgrades, and subpoena Bolton right away. This would appear to be the perfect and ‘easily explainable to The People’ way to keep the football out of Moscow Mitch’s Mitts and continue our studies.

rickjones · January 6, 2020, 5:15pm

Yep, reopen the House impeachment hearing for Bolton. And then for anyone else they can now get.

rob_beatty_walters · January 6, 2020, 5:15pm

So the House should subpoena him now. How could he refuse a House subpoena, when he says he’ll comply with a Senate subpoena? It will force him to explain that he only said he would comply with a Senate subpoena because he doesn’t expect there to be one.