Bolton says he is willing to testify in Trump impeachment trial
Former U.S. National Security Adviser John Bolton on Monday said he would testify at the impeachment trial of President Donald Trump if the Senate sends him a subpoena.
Bolton would be the closest former aide to the president to testify so far, and his willingness to appear could pressure Senate Republicans to commit to call witnesses in a trial.
It's something of a reversal for Bolton. He resisted a request from lawmakers to testify at impeachment hearings last year, saying the White House instructed him to refuse.
But in a statement on his personal website, Bolton wrote, "if the Senate issues a subpoena for my testimony, I am prepared to testify."
Congressional investigators say Bolton may have damning information about what they say was a White House effort to pressure Ukraine into launching a politically motivated-probe into Trump's rival, Joe Biden.
One of Bolton's top deputies, Fiona Hill, told Congressional panel that her boss was deeply alarmed by what he saw as an effort to pressure a foreign country to dig up dirt on the president's opponent.
(SOUNDBITE) (English) FORMER NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL STAFF MEMBER FIONA HILL, SAYING:
"Ambassador Bolton told me, 'that I am not part of this whatever drug deal that Mulvaney and Sondland are cooking up.'"
Democrats accused Trump of withholding a White House meeting and almost $400 million in military aid in order pressure Kiev into announcing the probes.
The hold on military aid alarmed career diplomats who believed Ukraine needed U.S. support amid its war with Russian-backed separatists.
(SOUNDBITE) (English) ACTING U.S. AMBASSADOR TO UKRAINE, WILLIAM TAYLOR, SAYING:
"It's one thing to try to leverage a meeting in the White House. It's another thing, I thought, to leverage security assistance, security assistance to a country at war..."
Bolton visited Ukraine in August, and appeared to share that view.
(SOUNDBITE) (English) U.S. NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISOR, JOHN BOLTON, SAYING:
"The people of the United States fought for their independence, their sovereignty. We understand what that kind of struggle means. And the people of the United States are with the people of Ukraine."
Bolton was fired two weeks later.
The White House released the aid to Ukraine after a whistleblower filed a report about a call between Trump and Ukraine's president.
Trump has denied wrongdoing, and called the impeachment process a witch hunt.
The House of Representatives last month approved two articles of impeachment against Trump for abuse of office and obstructing Congress.
But Democratic House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has not yet sent the articles to the Senate, which is supposed to hold a trial, saying she first wants a commitment from Republicans to call witnesses.
The Republican Senate leader, Mitch McConnell, has said he won't promise anything.
Bolton's professed willingness to appear could chisel away some support for McConnell's stance.
