Page 4 - ARUBA TODAY

A4 U.S. NEWS
Tuesday 28 January 2020

Why it Matters: Bolton revelations

complicate Trump defense

WASHINGTON (AP) — Rev- Bolton, who was ousted he would likely be in favor
elations from former na- from his post last year, of hearing from witnesses.
tional security adviser John writes in a book slated for Maine's Susan Collins said
Bolton's upcoming book publication in March that Monday that news about
are adding some drama Trump told him he wanted the Bolton book "strength-
to the ongoing Senate im- to withhold military assis- ens the case for witnesses
peachment trial of Presi- tance from Ukraine unless it and have prompted a
dent Donald Trump. Some helped him with investiga- number of conversations
reasons they could be im- tions into Democratic rival among my colleagues."
In this July 8, 2019, file photo, national security adviser John portant: Joe Biden. Even if witnesses are called,
Bolton speaks at the Christians United for Israel's annual summit, CONTRADICTS PRESIDEN- That flies in the face of it remains unlikely that
in Washington. TIAL DEFENSE Trump's defense, which the the GOP-controlled Sen-
Associated Press
White House defense team ate would vote to remove
is laying out in the Senate. Trump from office. But wit-
Trump has long insisted that ness testimony could ex-
he did not nothing wrong tend the trial for a week or
in his phone calls with two, pushing it past next
Ukraine's president and week's State of the Union
that there was no link be- address and increasing po-
tween the delay in distrib- litical risk for the president.
uting the aid and possible BRIGHTER SPOTLIGHT ON
probes into Biden and his TRUMP ASSOCIATES
son. Trump has tried to un- The book also revives ques-
dermine Bolton's credibility tions about the activities of
— and the impact of his other top administration of-
book — by asserting that ficials.
the former national security It asserts that Mulvaney,
adviser is a disgruntled for- despite denials, was in the
mer employee. room when the president
INCREASES PRESSURE FOR had at least one conversa-
TRIAL WITNESSES tion with his personal law-
The Senate, voting along yer, Rudy Giuliani, who was
party lines, initially struck spearheading the pressure
down a call for witnesses campaign in Ukraine. Mul-
to be part of the impeach- vaney said Monday he had
ment trial and postponed a no recollection of being on
decision until later, prompt- hand for the call.
ing complaints from Demo- Bolton also said Pompeo
crats about the fairness of shared concern that Giu-
the proceedings. liani was trying to ben-
Reports about Bolton's efit personally from the
book have increased the Ukraine pressure campaign
pressure to call witnesses, by helping other clients.
including senior Trump ad- Bolton also wrote that At-
ministration officials like torney General William Barr
Bolton, Secretary of State was aware earlier than he
Mike Pompeo and act- has acknowledged that he
ing chief of staff Mick Mul- was mentioned in Trump's
vaney. July call with the Ukrainian
A Senate vote on whether leader. Barr has denied
to call witnesses is expect- that. A move to include
ed as soon as Thursday. testimony from Bolton or
Four Republican senators the other advisers could
would need to join Senate prompt Trump to invoke ex-
Democrats for the propos- ecutive privilege to block
al to be approved. Utah them, which could result in
Republican Mitt Romney Democratic protests and a
has previously indicated lengthy court battle.q