Trump impeachment: John Bolton defends officials who testified against president in inquiry
Democrats want the ex-national security adviser to serve as a witness himself
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Your support makes all the difference.A former top Trump official has defended leading witnesses who have testified against the US president in his impeachment inquiry, according to local media.
John Bolton reportedly said the ex-members of the Trump administration “acted in the best interest of the country as they saw it” as Democrats push to hear his own testimony.
Donald Trump is currently on trial in the Senate after being impeached by the House for withholding aid money from Ukraine while pushing for the country to investigate Joe Biden, a political rival.
Speaking about the inquiry, Mr Bolton – a former national security adviser – said White House officials should “feel they are able to speak their minds without retribution”, according to KXAN, a TV station in Texas.
He reportedly said at a private event: “The idea that somehow testifying to what you think is true is destructive to the system of government we have — I think, is very nearly the reverse — the exact reverse of the truth.”
Former White House staff, advisers and diplomats, including Fiona Hill, Alexander Vindman and Marie Yovanovitch, gave damning testimonies detailing Mr Trump’s dealings with Ukraine during the impeachment inquiry.
The investigation has now progressed to the Senate, where Mr Bolton, who resigned as a national security adviser last year, is a sought-after witness for many Democrats.
Leaked manuscript for his upcoming book seemed to strengthen the case against Mr Trump.
Mr Bolton wrote that he heard the US president say he wanted military aid withheld from Ukraine until it agreed to investigate the Bidens — the abuse of power charge that is the first article of impeachment.
Mr Trump has responded angrily to the memoir, calling the claims ”nonsense” and saying his ex-national security adviser would have started “World War Six” if he had remained in the role.
Democrats hopes to hear Mr Bolton testify may be dashed as the Senate, which has a Republican majority,prepares to decide whether to call more witnesses for their investigation into Mr Trump.
The vote, expected Friday, could lead to an abrupt end of the trial and the US president’s expected acquittal.
The White House has been approached for comment about Mr Bolton’s remarks.
Additional reporting by Associated Press
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