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Monday 27 January 2020
looked unlikely in recent tance to Ukraine to push
days and it's unclear if the that country to mount in-
new revelations about vestigations into Demo-
Bolton's book will sway any crats, including former Vice
GOP senators. President Joe Biden and his
Democrats quickly sought son Hunter, who served on
to ramp up the pressure on the board of a Ukraine gas
their Republican counter- company, Burisma, while
parts. his father was in office.
"John Bolton has the evi- On Saturday, the presi-
dence," tweeted Senate dent's attorneys said dur-
Minority Leader Chuck ing their opening day of
Schumer. "It's up to four defense arguments that
Senate Republicans to en- there was no evidence
sure that John Bolton, Mick that Trump made the mili-
Mulvaney, and the others tary aid contingent on the
with direct knowledge of country announcing an in-
President Trump's actions vestigation into Biden.
testify in the Senate trial." The Times also reported
Senate Majority Leader that Bolton says he told At-
Mitch McConnell had no torney General William Barr
immediate comment, ac- that he was mentioned by
cording to his office. Trump on his July 25 call
The Associated Press has with Ukrainian President
not confirmed the con- Volodymyr Zelenskiy. A Jus-
tent of Bolton's draft book. tice Department official on
A person familiar with the Sunday disputed Bolton's
matter told the AP the account that he had told
book had been submitted Barr about the president's
to the White House for pre- call with Zelenskiy but did
publication review, which say that Bolton had called
In this July 31, 2019 file photo, then National security adviser John Bolton speaks to media at the
White House in Washington. Bolton says he's 'prepared to testify' in Senate impeachment trial if is standard for the work of Barr to raise concerns
subpoenaed former officials with security about Giuliani's shadow di-
Associated Press clearances. The person in- plomacy efforts.
sisted on anonymity to dis- Trump on Wednesday told
Continued from Front lawmakers that he is willing respond to a request for cuss the sensitive subject. reporters in Davos, Switzer-
Bolton, who acrimoniously to testify, despite the presi- comment Sunday night. The book's publisher, Simon land, that he didn't want
left the White House a day dent's order barring aides Democrats need at least & Schuster, declined to Bolton to testify before the
before Trump ultimately re- from cooperating in the four Republicans to vote comment. Senate. "The problem with
leased the Ukraine aid on probe. with them to seek witness Sarah Tinsley, an adviser to John is it's a national secu-
Sept. 11, has already told The White House did not testimony. Those prospects Bolton, said: "The ambassa- rity problem," Trump said.
dor's manuscript was trans- "He knows some of my
mitted to the White House thoughts. He knows what I
in hard copy several weeks think about leaders. What
ago for pre-publication re- happens if he reveals what
view by the NSC. The am- I think about a certain lead-
bassador has not passed er and it's not very positive
the draft manuscript to and then I have to deal on
anyone else. Period." behalf of the country?"
Democrats accuse Trump He added: "It's going to
of abuse of power in with- be very hard. It's going to
holding the military assis- make the job very hard."q