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Top GOP Senators Dismiss Bolton Allegation That Trump Sought Ukraine Quid Pro Quo
Epoch Times ^ | 01/27/2020 | BY ZACHARY STIEBER

Posted on 01/27/2020 2:09:57 PM PST by SeekAndFind

Top Republican senators dismissed leaked details from former National Security Adviser John Bolton’s upcoming book, saying the allegations were not new.

“There’s nothing new here. It does seem to be an effort to sell books,” Sen. John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), the No. 3 Republican in the Senate, told reporters in Washington on Monday.

“The basic dynamic of the obligation of the House to take the time they have to put a case together doesn’t change. I don’t think it changes any fundamental information, nor does it change the basic case that the House has to put the case together,” added Sen. Roy Blunt (R-Mo.), the No. 4 GOP member in the Senate.

Sen. Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) argued during an appearance on the “Hugh Hewitt Show” on Monday that the House could have called Bolton but didn’t, and the Senate shouldn’t do the House’s work for them.

“They want us to do the investigative work. And that’s not the job of the Senate,” Ernst, the vice chairwoman of the Senate Republican Conference, said.

Bolton reportedly alleged that he, acting White House Chief of Staff Mick Mulvaney, and Trump’s personal lawyer Rudy Giuliani were in a meeting where the president spoke with Giuliani about former U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine Marie Yovanovitch, who was fired last year.

He also alleged Trump also told Bolton that he wanted to keep withholding congressionally approved military aid to Ukraine to try to force officials there to open investigations into former Vice President Joe Biden and Biden’s son Hunter Biden.

Mulvaney denied the claims, as did Trump.

According to a declassified transcript of a July 2019 call, the president asked Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to “look into” allegations of corruption surrounding the Bidens. Hunter Biden sat on the board of Burisma Holdings, a Ukrainian energy company, from 2014 to 2019 while his father told audience members at an event in 2018 that in 2016 he pressured Ukrainian leaders into ousting a prosecutor who was probing his son’s employer.

The Bidens have denied wrongdoing while Democrats launched an impeachment inquiry based on the July call. House Democrats argued that because Joe Biden is running for the Democratic presidential nomination, the request amounted to asking a foreign country to interfere in the 2020 election.

Trump was impeached by House Democrats on Dec. 18, 2019, and is on trial in the Republican-held Senate.

Two GOP senators—Sens. Susan Collins (R-Maine) and Mitt Romney (R-Utah)—said the details of Bolton’s book bolstered the case for calling Bolton to testify. A third Republican signaled she might vote to call witnesses. Republicans hold a 53-47 majority, meaning Democrats need four GOP members to vote with them.

“I stated before that I was curious as to what John Bolton might have to say,” Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) said in a statement. “From the outset, I’ve worked to ensure this trial would be fair and that members would have the opportunity to weigh in after its initial phase to determine if we need more information.”

“I’ve also said there is an appropriate time for us to evaluate whether we need additional information—that time is almost here. I look forward to the White House wrapping up presentation of its case.”

Other Republican senators joined GOP leaders in suggesting they wouldn’t vote to call Bolton.

“Senator Romney wants to appease the left by calling witnesses who will slander the president during their 15 minutes of fame. The circus is over. It’s time to move on!” Sen. Kelly Loeffler (R-Ga.) said in a statement.

“It really doesn’t change anything,” Sen. Mike Braun (R-Ind.) said at a press conference.

Democrats, meanwhile, argued that the leaked details should compel Republicans to vote to hear from Bolton.

“If GOP senators refuse to hear from Bolton now, they will most certainly hear from him when he releases his book in March. Wouldn’t it be better to get the facts before we vote?” Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) said in a statement. “The American people deserve the truth during the trial, not after.”

“John Bolton’s account of his conversations with Trump is the smoking gun that should shake Senate Republicans to the core,” added Sen. Bob Menendez (D-N.J.). “We can’t wait for the Impeachment Trial to be over. We can’t wait for his book to be published. We need to hear the truth.”



TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Foreign Affairs; Government; Mexico; News/Current Events; US: Alaska; US: Connecticut; US: Delaware; US: Georgia; US: Indiana; US: Iowa; US: Maine; US: Massachusetts; US: Michigan; US: Missouri; US: New Jersey; US: New York; US: Utah; US: Wyoming
KEYWORDS: alaska; alexandervindman; blumenthal; bobmenendez; burismaholdings; clowncar; connecticut; delaware; georgia; hunterbiden; impeachment; indiana; iowa; joebiden; joeclowncarbiden; johnbarrasso; johnbolton; joniernst; kellyloeffler; lisamurkowski; maine; marieyovanovitch; massachusetts; michigan; mickmulvaney; mikebraun; missouri; mittwit; newjersey; newyork; newyorkcity; newyorkslimes; newyorktimes; quidproquo; richardblumenthal; royblunt; rudygiuliani; russia; susancollins; ukraine; utah; volodymyrzelensky; wyoming; yevgenyvindman
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1 posted on 01/27/2020 2:09:57 PM PST by SeekAndFind
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To: SeekAndFind

Impeach them too!


2 posted on 01/27/2020 2:14:59 PM PST by Steely Tom ([Seth Rich] == [the Democrats' John Dean])
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To: SeekAndFind

They have three of the four needed, Collins, Romney, Murkowsky, who will be #4?

Alexander or Burr possibly, both are retiring.


3 posted on 01/27/2020 2:20:46 PM PST by Lurkinanloomin (Natural Born Citizens Are Born Here of Citizen Parents_Know Islam, No Peace-No Islam, Know Peace)
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To: SeekAndFind

and who collaborates what Bolden said/wrote in his tell all book. Oncet upon a time.... If this was coming from Butticheck it would really be a fairy tail.


4 posted on 01/27/2020 2:22:02 PM PST by DOC44
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To: SeekAndFind
"He also alleged Trump also told Bolton that he wanted to keep withholding congressionally approved military aid to Ukraine to try to force officials there to open investigations into former Vice President Joe Biden and Biden’s son Hunter Biden."

If that's true the President apparently changed his mind. Maybe he was studying Bolton to see how he would react.
5 posted on 01/27/2020 2:23:58 PM PST by clearcarbon
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To: SeekAndFind

President Trump was merely trying to undo the 0bama/Biden/Clinton Quid Pro Quo.


6 posted on 01/27/2020 2:24:29 PM PST by reg45 (Barack 0bama: Gone but not forgiven.)
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To: SeekAndFind

The truth is any Republican Senator who acts like this matters hasn’t been listening to the number of Democrat fails and Trump wins.

Romney,Collins,etc your game is up. Choose your hurt.


7 posted on 01/27/2020 2:26:06 PM PST by conservativepoet
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To: SeekAndFind
How does anyone know what Bolton's allegation is? So far all we have is the NYT or some other fake news site quoting an anonymous source who knows someone who knows someone.

I have always been kind of a Bolton fan. I find it hard to believe he will make up something that contradicts the factual evidence everyone already has.

That doesn't mean anyone should vote to bring in witnesses.

8 posted on 01/27/2020 2:30:50 PM PST by stevem
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To: SeekAndFind

Even if the allegations are true there is nothing illegal about this.


9 posted on 01/27/2020 2:31:56 PM PST by 43north (Its hard to stop a man when he knows he's right and he keeps coming.)
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To: Lurkinanloomin

Sanders and Warren could vote for no witnesses just to get it over with and get back on with their campaigning. That would be a hoot.


10 posted on 01/27/2020 2:40:15 PM PST by DOC44
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To: SeekAndFind; All

Who cares? Since when is quid pro quo a criminal act? Every transaction in life is a quid pro quo.


11 posted on 01/27/2020 2:55:54 PM PST by Cobra64 (Common sense isnÂ’t common anymore.)
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To: SeekAndFind
We need to hear the truth.”

What. You think Bolton is lying? That President Trump didn't really want to withhold the aid?

12 posted on 01/27/2020 3:04:28 PM PST by Texas Eagle (If it wasn't for double-standards, Liberals would have no standards at all -- Texas Eagle)
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To: clearcarbon
You have to just hand it to the left for their chutzpah. I mean Hillary did the deed, but didn't have the intent (so they say). President Trump had the intent, but didn't do the deed. And it is Trump that they want to call on the carpet.

I want to do my taxes. I tell my accountant that I want to write off my Maserati payments as a business expense. He talks me out of it. Should I go to jail for thinking about committing tax fraud? Jeez Louise.

13 posted on 01/27/2020 3:08:47 PM PST by fhayek
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To: AdmSmith; AnonymousConservative; Arthur Wildfire! March; Berosus; Bockscar; cardinal4; ColdOne; ...
WATCH: Joe Biden Brags About Rigging The Ukranian Political System

WATCH: Joe Biden Brags About Rigging The Ukranian Political System

14 posted on 01/27/2020 3:16:20 PM PST by SunkenCiv (Imagine an imaginary menagerie manager imagining managing an imaginary menagerie.)
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To: stevem
"I have always been kind of a Bolton fan. I find it hard to believe he will make up something that contradicts the factual evidence everyone already has.

He might if he wanted to screw the democrats with a review copy of a manuscript subject to editing knowing it would be leaked.
15 posted on 01/27/2020 3:31:43 PM PST by clearcarbon
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To: DOC44

LOL, I’d like to see Klobuchar, Sanders and Warren vote against witnesses. At this point their Depends are permanently soiled. They are probably off the scale with extreme anxiety and I love it!!!


16 posted on 01/27/2020 3:37:31 PM PST by RooRoobird20 (“The Democrats haven’t been this angry since Republicans freed the slaves.”)
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To: clearcarbon
He might if he wanted to screw the democrats with a review copy of a manuscript subject to editing knowing it would be leaked.

Now that would be humor.

17 posted on 01/27/2020 4:12:27 PM PST by stevem
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To: Cobra64

It how our entire government works as well.


18 posted on 01/27/2020 5:02:37 PM PST by refermech
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To: All

Are the four or five actually going to side with Schmukie and creeps like Blumenthal over their own party?


19 posted on 01/27/2020 5:27:36 PM PST by gibsonguy
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To: Lurkinanloomin

After Dershowitz’s talk last night, I can see them deciding they don’t need any more witnesses because he made it clear the articles are unconstitutionally vague and that if every word about Bolton is true it means zilch because it also would not be impeachable...


20 posted on 01/28/2020 2:51:29 AM PST by trebb (Don't howl about illegal leeches, or Trump in general, while not donating to FR - it's hypocritical.)
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