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| Impeachment live updates: Trump highlights objections to Bolton testimony at a Senate trial | Impeachment live updates: Trump highlights objections to Bolton testimony at a Senate trial |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| President Trump highlighted objections Tuesday to the prospect of testimony from former national security adviser John Bolton, as Bolton’s announcement that he is prepared to appear at a Senate impeachment trial continued to roil Capitol Hill. | President Trump highlighted objections Tuesday to the prospect of testimony from former national security adviser John Bolton, as Bolton’s announcement that he is prepared to appear at a Senate impeachment trial continued to roil Capitol Hill. |
| Meanwhile, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) was facing increased scrutiny for the delay in transmitting the articles of impeachment to the Senate. The House will convene Tuesday night for its new session. | Meanwhile, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) was facing increased scrutiny for the delay in transmitting the articles of impeachment to the Senate. The House will convene Tuesday night for its new session. |
| The crux of the Democrats’ case is the allegation that Trump tried to leverage a White House meeting and military aid, sought by Ukraine to combat Russian military aggression, to pressure Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to launch an investigation of former vice president Joe Biden and his son Hunter Biden, as well as a probe of an unfounded theory that Kyiv conspired with Democrats to interfere in the 2016 presidential election. | The crux of the Democrats’ case is the allegation that Trump tried to leverage a White House meeting and military aid, sought by Ukraine to combat Russian military aggression, to pressure Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to launch an investigation of former vice president Joe Biden and his son Hunter Biden, as well as a probe of an unfounded theory that Kyiv conspired with Democrats to interfere in the 2016 presidential election. |
| ●Bolton’s willingness to testify in Trump’s impeachment trial ramps up pressure on Senate Republicans. | ●Bolton’s willingness to testify in Trump’s impeachment trial ramps up pressure on Senate Republicans. |
| ●Bolton says he would testify to the Senate. So why not the House? | ●Bolton says he would testify to the Senate. So why not the House? |
| ●What does Bolton know? | ●What does Bolton know? |
| Which senators support removing Trump | Which House members voted to impeach Trump | House resolution impeaching Trump | Other key documents | Which senators support removing Trump | Which House members voted to impeach Trump | House resolution impeaching Trump | Other key documents |
| House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) sharply criticized Pelosi during a morning television interview, accusing her of holding on to the articles of impeachment because “she’s realizing what a weak case she has.” | |
| Pelosi has been holding the two charges — abuse of power and obstruction of Congress — in the hope of strengthening the hand of Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer (D-N.Y.) in negotiating with Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) for witnesses in a Senate trial. | |
| “She’s got no leverage on Mitch McConnell, and the House has no leverage over the Senate,” McCarthy said during an appearance on Fox News’s “Fox & Friends.” “What’s really happening is she’s realizing how weak her case is.” | |
| McCarthy also argued that the Senate should not call witnesses in a trial that were not part of the House impeachment proceedings — a posture that would rule out hearing testimony from Bolton. | |
| “It’s not a place for the Senate to have more witnesses,” McCarthy said. | |
| Trump went on Twitter shortly after the interview to praise McCarthy’s performance. | |
| “Great interview with @GOPLeader Kevin McCarthy on @foxandfriends,” he tweeted. | |
| Trump on Tuesday highlighted the view of Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) that a Senate impeachment trial should be limited to the same testimony and evidence considered by the House — a standard that would preclude hearing testimony from Bolton. | Trump on Tuesday highlighted the view of Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) that a Senate impeachment trial should be limited to the same testimony and evidence considered by the House — a standard that would preclude hearing testimony from Bolton. |
| “Worth repeating,” Rubio said in a tweet retweeted by the president to his nearly 70 million followers. “The testimony & evidence considered in a Senate impeachment trial should be the same testimony & evidence the House relied upon when they passed the Articles of Impeachment. Our job is to vote on what the House passed, not to conduct an open ended inquiry.” | “Worth repeating,” Rubio said in a tweet retweeted by the president to his nearly 70 million followers. “The testimony & evidence considered in a Senate impeachment trial should be the same testimony & evidence the House relied upon when they passed the Articles of Impeachment. Our job is to vote on what the House passed, not to conduct an open ended inquiry.” |
| Bolton’s surprise announcement on Monday that he is willing to testify in the Senate complicated the political calculus for Republicans, many of whom have rallied around the idea of a quick trial with few, if any, witnesses. | |
| But Bolton’s announcement bolstered Senate Democrats, who want to subpoena Trump’s former national security adviser and several other officials who declined to participate in the House impeachment proceedings. | But Bolton’s announcement bolstered Senate Democrats, who want to subpoena Trump’s former national security adviser and several other officials who declined to participate in the House impeachment proceedings. |
| Amid a spate of other morning tweets and retweets focused on impeachment and tensions with Iran, Trump also highlighted posts by Sen. Lindsey O. Graham (R-S.C.) complaining about “stunts” by Pelosi. | Amid a spate of other morning tweets and retweets focused on impeachment and tensions with Iran, Trump also highlighted posts by Sen. Lindsey O. Graham (R-S.C.) complaining about “stunts” by Pelosi. |
| “Speaker Pelosi argued to the American people it was imperative that impeachment move forward ASAP because @realDonaldTrump was a threat to the country,” Graham tweeted. “Now she is sitting on the Articles and trying to run the Senate — denying President Trump his day in court. President Trump and America deserve better!” | “Speaker Pelosi argued to the American people it was imperative that impeachment move forward ASAP because @realDonaldTrump was a threat to the country,” Graham tweeted. “Now she is sitting on the Articles and trying to run the Senate — denying President Trump his day in court. President Trump and America deserve better!” |
| The spotlight on Pelosi will intensify as the House reconvenes for its new session Tuesday night. | The spotlight on Pelosi will intensify as the House reconvenes for its new session Tuesday night. |
| Democratic officials last week predicted Pelosi would deliver the articles of impeachment to the Senate as soon as this week, though the speaker has kept her plans quiet and her office has refused to detail her timeline. | Democratic officials last week predicted Pelosi would deliver the articles of impeachment to the Senate as soon as this week, though the speaker has kept her plans quiet and her office has refused to detail her timeline. |
| Pelosi has been holding the two charges — abuse of power and obstruction of Congress — in hopes of strengthening the hand of Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer (D-N.Y.) in negotiating with Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) for witnesses. | Pelosi has been holding the two charges — abuse of power and obstruction of Congress — in hopes of strengthening the hand of Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer (D-N.Y.) in negotiating with Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) for witnesses. |
| Bolton’s statement on Monday that he is prepared to testify in the Senate seemed to create a shift in leverage in favor of the Democrats. | Bolton’s statement on Monday that he is prepared to testify in the Senate seemed to create a shift in leverage in favor of the Democrats. |
| Under current rules, the House must pass a resolution naming its impeachment managers before a Senate trial begins. Pelosi has indicated the focus of the House this week will be on a war powers resolution to limit Trump’s military actions against Iran. | Under current rules, the House must pass a resolution naming its impeachment managers before a Senate trial begins. Pelosi has indicated the focus of the House this week will be on a war powers resolution to limit Trump’s military actions against Iran. |
| But with lawmakers back in Washington, a barrage of questions is likely about her intentions on delivering the articles of impeachment. | But with lawmakers back in Washington, a barrage of questions is likely about her intentions on delivering the articles of impeachment. |
| Trump is scheduled to welcome Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis to the White House on Tuesday afternoon. The visit includes an Oval Office meeting, part of which will be open to the press. | Trump is scheduled to welcome Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis to the White House on Tuesday afternoon. The visit includes an Oval Office meeting, part of which will be open to the press. |
| Trump has used similar meetings with world leaders to air grievances about the impeachment process and discuss other news of the day. | Trump has used similar meetings with world leaders to air grievances about the impeachment process and discuss other news of the day. |
| Trump has no other public events on his schedule Tuesday. | Trump has no other public events on his schedule Tuesday. |
| Trump late Monday night highlighted a suggestion by the Washington Examiner’s Byron York that testimony by Bolton could be less consequential than some think because the White House could assert executive privilege to limit his answers. | Trump late Monday night highlighted a suggestion by the Washington Examiner’s Byron York that testimony by Bolton could be less consequential than some think because the White House could assert executive privilege to limit his answers. |
| “The White House can assert executive privilege,” York said in a tweet retweeted by Trump. “It’s not Bolton’s privilege; it’s the president’s. If executive privilege covers anything, it is a talk between president and top adviser on matters of foreign policy.” | “The White House can assert executive privilege,” York said in a tweet retweeted by Trump. “It’s not Bolton’s privilege; it’s the president’s. If executive privilege covers anything, it is a talk between president and top adviser on matters of foreign policy.” |
| York attached a piece he wrote for the Examiner in which he called Bolton’s statement on Monday that he is prepared to testify in the Senate “an important development.” | York attached a piece he wrote for the Examiner in which he called Bolton’s statement on Monday that he is prepared to testify in the Senate “an important development.” |
| But, York wrote: “Testimony that is billed as dramatic, and even explosive, might be somewhat less exciting in reality.” | But, York wrote: “Testimony that is billed as dramatic, and even explosive, might be somewhat less exciting in reality.” |
| Trump’s retweet included no commentary of his own. | Trump’s retweet included no commentary of his own. |