Charles Cooper, the lawyer representing both former National Security Adviser John Bolton and his deputy Charles Kupperman, said that a Monday ruling about former White House counsel Don McGahn has no bearing on his clients.
The ruling, issued by U.S. District Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson, asserted that the Trump administration cannot block McGahn from obeying his House subpoena under claims of immunity.
Still, Cooper insisted that his clients’ case differs from McGahn’s particularly due to national security involvement, and that they’d have to wait for another ruling.
“Therefore, any passing references in the McGahn decision to Presidential communications concerning national security matters are not authoritative on the validity of testimonial immunity for close White House advisors, like Dr. Kupperman, whose responsibilities are focused exclusively on providing information and advice to the President on national security,” he said in a statement. “Accordingly, Dr. Kupperman will continue to pursue his lawsuit seeking an authoritative and binding judicial ruling resolving the question whether he is constitutionally obliged to obey the House’s demand that he testify or the President’s conflicting demand that he decline to do so.”
Bolton has not been subpoenaed; Kupperman was, but the House committee rescinded his subpoena when he filed the lawsuit.
Jackson blasted the Trump administration in her ruling, quipping that “Presidents are not kings.”
Bolton doesn’t want to testify, if he did, he would already had done so. It’s not like they are going to send the FBI or SS to intercept him on the way to Capitol Hill, or try to cover his mouth while he speaks. He has decided that is the best for him to keep mum, either because he doesn’t want any spoilers for his book or because he wants to stay in the good graces of the Wingnut Welfare Network.
I’ve always despised Bolton, but after watching the hearings I despise him slightly less.
I think all this maneuvering has something to do with his book tour. Funny how people in a position to know him better are not obliging his quest for publicity.
John Bolton- unique snowflake.
Alas, Thomas, Alito, Kavanaugh, Gorsuch, and Roberts might have a different opinion than the Judge Jackson and the Framers.
(Judge Jackson and the Framers - good name for a band!)
I despised him slightly less for a few minutes, until it became clear from Dr. Hill’s and Sondland’s testimony that Bolton knew what was going on with Ukraine and did nothing about it except try to cover his own ass, which he continues to do. He could easily testify if he wanted to and actually cared about the truth and his oath to the Constitution.
Hill is a patriot; Bolton is a self-serving, greedy jerk.