The dismissal procedure against Donald Trump is "hell", his lawyers deplored on Monday when his trial before the Senate resumed, words which were muddled by explosive assertions of a former adviser to the Republican president.
John Bolton, his former national security adviser, says in a book to be published soon that Donald Trump has well conditioned military aid for Ukraine to the opening of an investigation into his political rivals, revealed on Sunday evening the New York Times .
If he admits asking Kiev to investigate Democrat Joe Biden, his potential opponent to the presidential election in November, Donald Trump has always denied having exerted pressure or formulated the slightest "give and take". He strongly denied having made the link during a discussion in August with John Bolton, as he said, accusing him of "wanting to sell his book". "We do not get involved in speculations, allegations which are not based on evidence", was content to declare on Monday his lawyer Jay Sekulow while speaking before the hundred senators charged with trying the president.
Revelations "sparked many conversations" among Republicans
Two-thirds of them (67) would have to find him guilty before Donald Trump could be removed, a highly unlikely scenario. The Democratic opposition hopes, however, that the trial will tarnish its image within 300 days of the election. For weeks, she has been calling on senators to call new witnesses, including John Bolton, to "bring the truth out." The former adviser, who was sacked in September, said in early January that he was ready to respond to a subpoena.
To be able to summon him, the Democrats must convince at least four of the 53 Republican senators to rally to their cause. So far they have not succeeded, but the latest revelations may have moved the lines. "I increasingly believe that other Republicans are joining those of us who think we should be hearing from John Bolton," said Republican Senator Mitt Romney before a majority lunch.
"The articles on John Bolton's book (...) sparked many conversations among my colleagues," added moderate Republican Senator Susan Collins. Her colleague Lisa Murkowski said she was “curious to hear” what he had to say. A vote on the question of witnesses should take place this weekend, after the defense has concluded its argument and the senators have put their questions in writing to both parties. Even if John Bolton was summoned, it is likely that the White House will take legal action to block his testimony in the name of the confidentiality of the exchanges between the president and his closest advisers.
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