Bolton Will Not Appear Voluntarily To Testify In Impeachment Inquiry

Former national security adviser John Bolton will not appear voluntarily in front of Democratic-led House impeachment inquiries into President Trump’s interactions with Ukraine, according to The Hill.

Bolton attorney Chuck Cooper said in a Wednesday evening email that a subpoena would be required if he is to testify, after House invited him to appear earlier in the day.

A former US Ambassador to the United Nations during the Bush administration, Bolton was fired by President Trump in September after “disagreeing strongly” with many of his suggestions.

Word of Bolton’s decision not to appear voluntarily comes after he was placed on schedule to give a closed-door deposition next week – news which came after CNN reported last week that Bolton was in discussions with House committees about the possibility of testimony.

Three big new deposition notices just went out, per a person familiar.

John Eisenberg for 11/4
Michael Ellis also for 11/4
John Bolton for 11/7

— Nicholas Fandos (@npfandos) October 30, 2019

As the Hill notes, “It is not clear whether a subpoena will be enough to compel his appearance.”

On Friday, former deputy national security adviser Charles Kupperman filed a lawsuit, asking a federal judge to weight in on whether he should abide by an order from the White House not to testify, or adhere to a House subpoena compelling him to appear – describing himself as caught between two competing branches of government. Kupperman did not appear for scheduled testimony on Monday, while a court hearing has been scheduled on Thursday to address the matter.

Bolton and Kupperman notably have the same attorneys.

Democrats are investigating whether the Trump administration pressured Ukraine to investigate, among other things, claims that former Vice President abused his office to force Ukraine into firing a prosecutor who was investigating a Ukrainian gas company who was paying Biden’s son Hunter to sit on its board.

A parade of witnesses have testified behind closed doors in connection with the inquiry; according to portions of their testimony leaked out into the press, several witnesses expressed concerns over an unconventional channel of policymaking on Ukraine involving Trump’s personal attorney Rudy Giuliani.

Bolton’s name has come up during the depositions. He is said to have been alarmed by a July 10 meeting during which U.S. Ambassador to the European Union Gordon Sondland linked “investigations” to a White House meeting between Trump and Zelensky, and reportedly later referred to it as a “drug deal.” –The Hill

Why is Bolton scheduled to testify when he has refused to do so willingly?