Both Senate leaders took the floor for their planned addresses Monday, hours after former National Security Adviser John Bolton dropped the bombshell news that he’d be willing to testify in the impeachment trial if subpoenaed.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) referenced the news only obliquely, signaling that Bolton’s decision did not alter how he intends to go forward.
Democrats “are pursuing avenues that Chairman Schiff himself didn’t bother to pursue,” he said, adding later that “the Senate does not just bob along on the currents of every news cycle.”
McConnell also advocated for starting the trial now and figuring out witnesses later. Democrats object to that idea, not least because it removes all the leverage they currently have in withholding the articles of impeachment.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) took the floor a few minutes later, not mincing words about the optics of Republicans blocking such a big-ticket witness, now that Bolton publicly voiced his willingness to testify.
“Given that Mr. Bolton’s lawyers have stated he has new and relevant information to share, if any Senate Republican opposes issuing subpoenas to the four witnesses and documents we’ve requested, they would make it absolutely clear they are participating in a coverup of one of the most sacred duties we have in this Congress, in this Senate —and that is to keep a President in check,” he said.
He emphasized that Democrats only need four Republicans to defect to summon Bolton, along with other witnesses, and to obtain critical documents.
Bolton announced earlier on Monday that he would testify, saying that he “had to resolve the serious competing issues as best I could, based on careful consideration and study” after a judicial decision he was waiting on fell through. He’d piggybacked on his deputy Charles Kupperman’s case, waiting for a judge to decide if a House subpoena or White House gag took precedence.
The House withdrew Kupperman’s subpoena, choosing to focus on witnesses willing to testify and lump the rest in with the case for the White House’s obstruction. Bolton was never subpoenaed.
Democrats have long desired the testimony of the man who called the Ukraine pressure campaign a “drug deal” and Rudy Giuliani a “hand grenade.” Multiple witnesses recalled during the House Intelligence Committee impeachment hearings that Bolton was an objector to the backchannel negotiations, and that he directed some of them to pass their concerns up the chain of command.
Bolton left the administration on September 10.
Democrats should point out that article 2 answers Moscow Mitch’s statement that the House didn’t pursue certain avenues…trying to wait out subpoenas in light of the absolute blockage by the administration could have taken years and just was not viable. With the chance to evaluate new evidence that has come to light, and get testimony, a responsible agent would be pursuing that instead of trying to ignore everything and hold a show trial. Schumer is doing the right thing to point this out every time he can, and try to wear down some of the Republicans who either fear for their seats or actually believe in their oaths.
I doubt any of this matters in the end, Mitch will twist arms and force through his wishes, and then hope that nothing even worse happens that voters punish him and Republicans for. Sadly, he may actually have a winning strategy in that.
Which is why I hope Schiff absolutely goes forward with a hearing on Soleimani. Bolton agreeing to honor a subpoena threatened to turn the news cycle away from Iran, and McConnell wants that distraction to continue while he works in the shadows to kneecap the Senate’s trial proceedings. Schiff beginning an inquiry on Soleimani indirectly keeps the issue of Trump’s fitness for office alive, and works to package the warring news threads together and tie them with a bow. Chalk one up for Schiff. Just do it and keep talking about it. Oh and it doesn’t hurt that Schumer’s making his bit of noise either.
Oh, but you underestimate the Moron. He’s probably fuming that his drone strike isn’t having the desired effect and will do something rash soon. Maybe some of the Republicans didn’t figure on having to defend a new war, which might influence a vote or two.
Meh, probably not.
ETA: I also wouldn’t be surprised if there was a leak regarding the “imminent threat.”
Another precision drone strike on another lead balloon.
’Cecil’
bookmarking