John Bolton Says He’s Willing to Testify in Trump’s Impeachment Trial

Then-national security adviser John Bolton in a press conference at the White House in Washington on Aug. 2, 2018. Mark Wilson/Getty Images

John Bolton, a former adviser to President Donald Trump, indicated he will testify in the coming Senate impeachment trial if he’s called as a witness.

“Since my testimony is once again at issue, I have had to resolve the serious competing issues as best I could, based on careful consideration and study. I have concluded that, if the Senate issues a subpoena for my testimony, I am prepared to testify,” Bolton said in a statement on his website.

Bolton issued a statement after a court didn’t rule on whether he would be compelled to testify in the House’s impeachment inquiry. He was never subpoenaed, and Democrats withdrew a subpoena for his former assistant, Charles Kupperman. Democrats explained that they wanted to move forward on impeachment and couldn’t wait for court decisions to be rendered.

“My colleague, Dr. Charles Kupperman, faced with a House committee subpoena on the one hand, and a Presidential directive not to testify on the other, sought final resolution of this Constitutional conflict from the Federal judiciary. After my counsel informed the House committee that I too would seek judicial resolution of these Constitutional issues, the committee chose not to subpoena me. Nevertheless, I publicly resolved to be guided by the outcome of Dr. Kupperman’s case,” Bolton, who left the White House in September 2019, said in his statement.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) has publicly expressed resistance to calling in new witnesses during the Senate trial, although Democrats are pressing to hear from Bolton, acting White House chief of staff Mick Mulvaney, and others.

Bolton’s statement comes as House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) is stalling the two articles of impeachment against Trump in an attempt to get the Senate to reveal how it will hold the trial. At the same time, Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) has proposed calling several witnesses, but McConnell has rejected Schumer’s terms.

“We can’t hold a trial without the articles,” McConnell wrote on Twitter on Jan. 3. “The Senate’s own rules don’t provide for that. So, for now, we are content to continue the ordinary business of the Senate.”

Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) on Jan. 5, however, suggested changing the Senate’s rules if the House doesn’t release the two articles.

“If we don’t get the articles this week, then we need to take matters in our own hands and change the rules, deem them to be delivered to the Senate so we can start the trial, invite the House over to participate if they would like, if they don’t come, dismiss the case, and get on with governing the country,” Graham told Fox News.