The Bolton news has already changed the calculus of the senate trial. As we’ve reported, the looming, inevitable bombshells were always going to be a factor — and a risk for Republicans — in a case still rapidly unfolding. politico.com/news/2020/01/0…
Don’t forget, Bolton could have taken the same deal his subordinates did to tell his story to House investigators — and he had a second shot when the district court cast doubt on WH ‘absolute immunity’ claims — but he fell back on his deputy’s lawsuit as a reason to keep silent.
Info that has come out (or is likely to) since the House impeached:
-GAO finding Trump broke the law
-Parnas evidence / interviews
-Internal docs on aid freeze (Just Security)
-Bolton manuscript, per NYT
-Jennifer Williams letter
-DoE correspondence from American Oversight 1/28
-GAO finding Trump broke the law
-Parnas evidence / interviews
-Internal docs on aid freeze (Just Security)
-Bolton manuscript, per NYT
-Jennifer Williams letter
-DoE correspondence from American Oversight 1/28
Bolton spox tells @meridithmcgraw: “The Ambassador sent the draft manuscript to the White House for pre-publication review by the NSC several weeks ago. The Amb. has not circulated the draft manuscript to anyone else for review. There was one hard copy that was sent to the NSC.”
JUST IN: Schiff and House managers weigh in on Bolton. 
Not too long ago:
WORTH NOTING: The House managers in their statement tonight requested not just Bolton but his "notes" and other docs.
Bolton was a notoriously prolific note-taker and would likely have documented his interactions with the president (particularly if they're now in a book draft.)
Bolton was a notoriously prolific note-taker and would likely have documented his interactions with the president (particularly if they're now in a book draft.)
BOLTON's lawyer seems to confirm the accuracy of the Times story:
FWIW, this means Bolton submitted his book for review a week before he offered to testify to the Senate.
TRUMP had a slightly different claim about what Bolton would say about military aid to Ukraine, when he appealed to Bolton's patriotism in November:
MORE NEWS: Bill Taylor, former ambassador to Ukraine, speaks out -- and takes a shot at POMPEO over recnt comments on Ukraine.
nytimes.com/2020/01/26/opi…
nytimes.com/2020/01/26/opi…
This is why Democrats' demand for Bolton's contemporaneous notes — even more than his live testimony — means everything here.
For now, it's Trump's word vs. Bolton's.
For now, it's Trump's word vs. Bolton's.
JUST IN, per @meridithmcgraw:
An NSC spokesman says Bolton's manuscript is still under review: "No White House personnel outside NSC have reviewed the manuscript.”
An NSC spokesman says Bolton's manuscript is still under review: "No White House personnel outside NSC have reviewed the manuscript.”
