My latest reporting w/ @rachaelmbade: Trump’s lawyers, Senate GOP allies work privately to ensure Bolton does not testify publicly, with ongoing if fluid discussions about asserting exec. priv. or, if need be, classifying it... washingtonpost.com/politics/trump…
@rachaelmbade One option being discussed, according to a senior administration official, would be to move Bolton’s testimony into a classified setting because of national security concerns, ensuring that it is not public.
@rachaelmbade But that proposal, discussed among some Senate Republicans in recent days, is seen as a final tool against Bolton becoming an explosive figure during the trial. First, Republicans involved in the discussions said, would come a fierce battle in the courts.
@rachaelmbade Multiple Senate Republicans and White House officials cautioned that the strategy was not finalized and discussions were preliminary, particularly since Bolton and others might not even be called in the coming weeks if 51 senators are unable to finalize an agreement on witnesses.
