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Democrats call for Bolton to testify in impeachment trial Calls grow for Bolton to testify in impeachment trial
(about 2 hours later)
Democrats have renewed their demand for US President Donald Trump's former National Security Adviser John Bolton to be called to testify in the president's impeachment trial. Democrats have renewed demands for US President Donald Trump's former National Security Adviser John Bolton to testify in the president's impeachment trial.
It follows Mr Bolton reportedly claiming that Mr Trump wanted to freeze aid to Ukraine unless it investigated his rival, Democrat Joe Biden.It follows Mr Bolton reportedly claiming that Mr Trump wanted to freeze aid to Ukraine unless it investigated his rival, Democrat Joe Biden.
The claims, apparently made in a book manuscript, are central to the trial due to resume later on Monday.The claims, apparently made in a book manuscript, are central to the trial due to resume later on Monday.
Mr Trump denies the charges.Mr Trump denies the charges.
But they could damage his defence. But the claims allegedly made by Mr Bolton could damage the president's defence.
Mr Trump told reporters last week that he did not want Mr Bolton to testify, citing national security concerns.Mr Trump told reporters last week that he did not want Mr Bolton to testify, citing national security concerns.
The president is alleged to have withheld military aid to pressure Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky into starting a corruption investigation into Mr Biden, and his son Hunter.The president is alleged to have withheld military aid to pressure Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky into starting a corruption investigation into Mr Biden, and his son Hunter.
President Trump has repeatedly branded the impeachment proceedings a "witch hunt".President Trump has repeatedly branded the impeachment proceedings a "witch hunt".
What do the new reports allege?What do the new reports allege?
On Sunday, the New York Times cited excerpts from an unpublished book by Mr Bolton, who was fired from the White House in early September.On Sunday, the New York Times cited excerpts from an unpublished book by Mr Bolton, who was fired from the White House in early September.
They included claims that Mr Trump told Mr Bolton in August that he wanted to withhold $391 million security aid to Ukraine until officials there assisted with probes into Democrats, including Mr Biden.They included claims that Mr Trump told Mr Bolton in August that he wanted to withhold $391 million security aid to Ukraine until officials there assisted with probes into Democrats, including Mr Biden.
If true, such a claim would undermine the main argument of Mr Trump's defence team that there was no "quid pro quo" which offered aid in return for investigating Mr Biden.If true, such a claim would undermine the main argument of Mr Trump's defence team that there was no "quid pro quo" which offered aid in return for investigating Mr Biden.
"Bolton directly contradicts the heart of the President's defence," House impeachment manager Adam Schiff tweeted. "Bolton directly contradicts the heart of the President's defence," tweeted Democratic congressman Adam Schiff, who serves as the senior House prosecutor in the impeachment trial.
"If the trial is to be fair, Senators must insist that Mr Bolton be called as a witness, and provide his notes and other documents.""If the trial is to be fair, Senators must insist that Mr Bolton be called as a witness, and provide his notes and other documents."
Will it change anything?Will it change anything?
Analysis - Anthony Zurcher, BBC NewsAnalysis - Anthony Zurcher, BBC News
While John Bolton has said he's happy to appear before the Senate, whether he can do so starts with a question of simple maths. Are there four Republicans out of the 53 in the Senate interested enough in what he has to say to bring him in to testify?While John Bolton has said he's happy to appear before the Senate, whether he can do so starts with a question of simple maths. Are there four Republicans out of the 53 in the Senate interested enough in what he has to say to bring him in to testify?
While he clearly could be a key witness - revealing the motivations behind the hold on US aid to Ukraine and the president's involvement - calling him as a witness would plunge the Senate trial into the unknown.While he clearly could be a key witness - revealing the motivations behind the hold on US aid to Ukraine and the president's involvement - calling him as a witness would plunge the Senate trial into the unknown.
Republicans have already said that if Bolton appears, they'll also subpoena the Bidens, the whistleblower and others. It could start a tit-for-tat that drags on for weeks, ending the prospects of a speedy conclusion to the proceedings.Republicans have already said that if Bolton appears, they'll also subpoena the Bidens, the whistleblower and others. It could start a tit-for-tat that drags on for weeks, ending the prospects of a speedy conclusion to the proceedings.
What's more, there could be a legal battle over whether Bolton, if called, could be allowed to actually speak. The president has already hinted at a legal battle to stop him.What's more, there could be a legal battle over whether Bolton, if called, could be allowed to actually speak. The president has already hinted at a legal battle to stop him.
The truth - at least, Bolton's version of it - will eventually come out. The quandary for the handful of Senate Republicans on the fence about witnesses is whether they want to hear it now or keep the lid on things until after the president's likely acquittal.The truth - at least, Bolton's version of it - will eventually come out. The quandary for the handful of Senate Republicans on the fence about witnesses is whether they want to hear it now or keep the lid on things until after the president's likely acquittal.
What has reaction been to latest revelations? What has been the reaction to the latest revelations?
Interest for Mr Bolton to testify grew following the New York Times report. Republican Senator Mitt Romney said: "I think it's increasingly likely that other Republicans will join those of us who think we should hear from John Bolton."
Doug Jones, a Democratic senator from Alabama, said the body should issue a subpoena for the manuscript if Mr Bolton could not be brought to testify.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said that Republicans' refusal to call Mr Bolton and others is "now even more indefensible".House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said that Republicans' refusal to call Mr Bolton and others is "now even more indefensible".
But Mr Trump denied the apparent claim, writing on Twitter: "I NEVER told John Bolton that the aid to Ukraine was tied to investigations into Democrats, including the Bidens. But Mr Trump denied the claim, writing on Twitter: "I NEVER told John Bolton that the aid to Ukraine was tied to investigations into Democrats, including the Bidens.
"In fact, he never complained about this at the time of his very public termination. If John Bolton said this, it was only to sell a book." "In fact, he never complained about this at the time of his very public termination. If John Bolton said this, it was only to sell a book." Mr Bolton served as National Security Adviser to Mr Trump from April 2018 to September 2019, when his departure was announced on Twitter.
Earlier Mr Bolton's lawyers said it was clear that the book's "pre-publication review process has been corruption and that information has been disclosed by persons other than those properly involved in reviewing the manuscript". Mr Bolton's lawyers said the book's "pre-publication review process has been corrupted and that information has been disclosed by persons other than those properly involved in reviewing the manuscript".
According to the New York Times, they blamed the White House for the leak, saying it had received a copy to review it for any disclosure of classified information. They blamed the White House for the leak, which had received a copy to review it for any disclosure of classified information.
The latest reports come after a video made public on Saturday showed Mr Trump ordering the removal of the US ambassador to Ukraine in 2018.The latest reports come after a video made public on Saturday showed Mr Trump ordering the removal of the US ambassador to Ukraine in 2018.
With Republicans holding a 53-47 majority in the Senate, it is unlikely that the president will be removed from office after being impeached by the House of Representatives. Mr Trump was impeached by the Democrat-led House of Representatives in December 2019, but a two-thirds majority in the Senate is required to remove him from office. With Republicans holding a 53-47 majority in the Senate, the outcome is unlikely.
He is the third president in US history to face an impeachment trial.He is the third president in US history to face an impeachment trial.
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