Former national security adviser John Bolton, whom the GOP-controlled Senate declined to summon during President Donald Trump's impeachment trial, will likely be summoned by the House Judiciary Committee to testify, the panel's chairman said Wednesday.
"I think it's likely, yes," Representative Jerrold Nadler (D-N.Y.) told reporters. "When you have a lawless president, you have to bring that to the fore and you have to spotlight that. You have to protect the Constitution, whatever the political consequences."
Bolton is believed to have firsthand knowledge of Trump's dealings with Ukraine, reportedly saying in a forthcoming book that the president withheld military aid as he lobbied the country to conduct investigations into Democrats, including former Vice President Joe Biden, that would benefit his re-election.
Nadler said his panel would want Bolton to discuss not just Ukraine but also the various congressional probes House Democrats have launched against the Trump administration since they regained the chamber's majority last year.
"We are talking about everything," he said. Speaking about whether there could be political blowback, Nadler responded, "As more and more lawlessness comes out, I presume the public will understand that."
Bolton was blocked by the White House from testifying last year during the House's impeachment inquiry and threatened to sue if he was issued a subpoena. Impeachment investigators declined to do so, citing the lengthy court battle that would ensue.
But Bolton changed his tune last month, saying he was willing to testify in the Senate's impeachment trial. In their attempt to subpoena him, as well as other witnesses and documents they believed were relevant, Senate Democrats came up two votes short, although Republicans Mitt Romney of Utah and Susan Collins of Maine broke with their party and supported the move.
At 4 p.m. Wednesday, the Senate will cast its final vote in the trial, which is expected to end with the president's acquittal.
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