ZEKE MILLER Associated Press
WASHINGTON (AP) — Former Trump national security adviser John Bolton said Monday that he is “prepared to testify” if he is subpoenaed by the Senate in its impeachment trial.
Bolton, who left the White House in September, said that he has weighed the issues of executive privilege and that after “careful consideration and study” decided that he would comply with a Senate subpoena.
“I have concluded that, if the Senate issues a subpoena for my testimony, I am prepared to testify," he said in a statement.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has publicly expressed resistance to calling new witnesses in the trial, though Democrats are pressing to hear from Bolton and others who did not appear before the House's inquiry in the upcoming proceedings.
Bolton's statement comes as House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is stalling House-passed articles of impeachment against Trump in a bid to get new witnesses to testify. Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer has proposed calling several witnesses, including Bolton, but McConnell has so far rejected Schumer's terms.
It is unclear when Pelosi will eventually release the articles. If she decides to do so in the coming days, a Senate trial could start as soon as this week.
“We can’t hold a trial without the articles,” McConnell tweeted Monday. “The Senate’s own rules don’t provide for that. So, for now, we are content to continue the ordinary business of the Senate while House Democrats continue to flounder. For now.”
Presidential hopefuls sparred over immigration at the Democratic debate in Detroit Wednesday night, arguing specifically over how the next occupant of the White House will improve the system and correct approaches taken by past administrations.
On the Detroit Democratic debate stage, Sen. Kamala Harris, a former prosecutor, found herself grilled on her record regarding cannabis and criminal justice by fellow candidate Rep. Tulsi Gabbard.
Rep. Ryan told Cheddar that he's so focused on making sure American workers are prepared for the future of manufacturing and wants to drive investment in the electric vehicle market.
The Federal Reserve cut interest rates by 0.25 percent on Wednesday, marking the first time the U.S. central bank had lowered rates since the financial collapse in 2008. The decision puts the benchmark rate at a range between 2 and 2.25 percent.
Fox News personality Judge Jeanine Pirro is jumping into the cannabis game. She joined the board of Heavenly Rx, the hemp and CBD company announced on Wednesday.
These are the headlines you Need 2 Know for Wednesday, July 31, 2019.
Candidates like Pete Buttigieg, Tim Ryan, and Amy Klobuchar were very critical of the student loan forgiveness plans put forth by Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren on the Detroit debate stage.
In a debate heavy on the topic of Medicare for All versus private insurance, the 2020 Democratic candidates also wrangled about expanding guaranteed coverage to undocumented immigrants on the Detroit stage.
The president's team is in Detroit as Democratic hopefuls flock to the second primary debates, and it's banking on the economic improvements in the Great Lakes State to help him bring home another victory in 2020.
President Trump may be excluded from the nation’s largest primary election after California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a bill into law on Tuesday that would require presidential hopefuls to release their tax returns in order to appear on the ballot.
