Trump asked Bolton in a May meeting to contact the Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, and tell him to meet Rudy Giuliani, Bolton’s book says, according to a New York Times report.
Giuliani, the president’s personal lawyer, was in charge of the in-country effort to make the Ukrainians understand what Trump wanted – and to deliver it.
In a further bombshell, Bolton wrote that the White House counsel, Pat Cipollone, was among the attendees of the May meeting. Cipollone is the leader of Trump’s impeachment defense team.
If Bolton’s account is true, Cipollone has hidden his knowledge of the Ukraine scheme while ridiculing the notion there was ever such a scheme – and simultaneously accusing the House managers of concealing evidence.
Trump denied Bolton’s account. He said in a statement: “I never instructed John Bolton to set up a meeting for Rudy Giuliani, one of the greatest corruption fighters in America and by far the greatest mayor in the history of NYC, to meet with President Zelenskiy.
Schiff pounced on the denial as the Senate began debate on Friday on the question of calling witnesses. He said: “Here you have the president saying John Bolton is not telling the truth. Let’s find out. Let’s depose John Bolton under oath. Let’s find out who’s telling the truth.
“As Mr Cipollone said, let’s make sure that all the facts come out.”
Among those joining Schiff’s call for witnesses on Friday was John Kelly, Trump’s former chief of staff, who alluded to polls showing overwhelming public support for calling witnesses.
Among those joining Schiff’s call for witnesses on Friday was John Kelly, Trump’s former chief of staff, who alluded to polls showing overwhelming public support for calling witnesses.
“If you don’t respond to 75% of the American voters and have witnesses, it’s a job only half done,” Kelly said. “You open yourself up forever as a Senate that shirks its responsibilities.”
On Thursday night, Republican Lamar Alexander, a retiring senator, said he would vote against witnesses.
“Just because actions meet a standard of impeachment does not mean it is in the best interest of the country to remove a president from office,” Rubio said in a statement.
