The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Bolton is willing to testify if court clears way, sources say
Former national security adviser is a high-value witness in inquiry.
Former national
WASHINGTON — security adviser John Bolton is willing to defy the White House and testify in the House impeachment inquiry about his alarm at the Ukraine pressure campaign if a federal court clears the way, according to people familiar with his views.
Bolton could be a powerful witness for Democrats: Top State
Department and national security officials have already testified that he was deeply concerned about efforts by President Donald Trump and his allies to push Ukraine to open investigations into the president’s political rivals while the Trump administration held up military aid to that country.
The former national security adviser, who abruptly left his
post in September, is expected to confirm their statements and describe his conversations with Trump, according to the people, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because of the ongoing inquiry.
However, Bolton, a longtime GOP foreign policy adviser, does not want to comply with the Democratic inquiry without a court ruling on the ongoing constitutional dispute between the Trump administration and Congress, the people said.
It remains unclear how quickly that could happen — and whether it would be in time for Bolton to be called as a witness in the public House impeachment hearings, which are scheduled to begin next week. On Wednesday, House Democrats said they are awaiting a key test case involving former White House counsel Donald
McGahn, in which a district-court decision could come by the end of this month.
An attorney for Bolton declined to comment.
Bolton is considered a highvalue witness in part because, as national security adviser, he would have spoken directly with
the president about U.S. foreign policy objectives in Ukraine.
House Democrats requested Bolton’s appearance at a closeddoor deposition Thursday, but he did not appear. He has not been issued a subpoena.
However, Bolton, a longtime GOP foreign policy adviser, does not want to comply with the Democratic inquiry without a court ruling on the ongoing constitutional dispute between the Trump administration and Congress, the people said.