Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Bolton says his impeachment testimony would not have changed outcome
nbcnews.com ^ | 2/19/2020 | Carol E. Lee

Posted on 02/19/2020 10:12:54 PM PST by bitt

But former Obama administration national security adviser Susan Rice Rice challenged his decision not to publicly discuss Trump's Ukraine pressure campaign.

Former national security adviser John Bolton said Wednesday he was surprised that Senate Republicans rejected his offer to testify in President Donald Trump's impeachment trial. But he said that even if he had testified, it wouldn't have changed the outcome of the trial because of how House Democrats handled their investigation.

"I think the House committed impeachment malpractice," Bolton said at an event at Vanderbilt University with Susan Rice, who was national security adviser during the administration of former President Barack Obama. "The process drove Republicans who might have voted for impeachment away" because "it was so partisan," he said.

But, he added, "my testimony would have made no difference to the ultimate outcome."

All but one Senate Republican voted to acquit Trump of abusing the power of his office by pressuring Ukraine to investigate a political opponent.

Rice challenged Bolton repeatedly over his decision not to testify in the House or publicly discuss what he knows about the president's Ukraine pressure campaign, particularly as officials who worked for him on the National Security Council have done so and have since endured Trump's wrath.

"I can't imagine withholding my testimony, with or without a subpoena," Rice said. "I also can't imagine, frankly, in the absence of being able to provide the information directly to Congress, not having exercised my First Amendment right to speak publicly at a time when my testimony or my experience would be relevant. And, frankly, when my subordinates ... were doing their duty and responding in a fashion consistent with their legal obligations to provide information."

Rice specifically mentioned two former National Security Council officials, Army Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman

(Excerpt) Read more at nbcnews.com ...


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Extended News; Government; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: bolton; impeachment
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-35 last
To: Texas Eagle

Bill Kristol will buy it, and the pages of his copy will stick together...


21 posted on 02/19/2020 11:31:43 PM PST by kiryandil (Chris Wallace: Because someone has to drive the Clown Car)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: o-n-money

GOOD ONE he he he


22 posted on 02/19/2020 11:37:36 PM PST by buffyt (~ It is not a CHOICE, it is a CHILD! ~)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 9 | View Replies]

To: Jeff Chandler
Bolton should have blamed an Internet video.

For Bolton to allow himself to be shamed by such a discredited hack as Rice shows us he is a shell of the man we thought he was. He will lay on his deathbed fantasizing of how he could have beaten Trump, if only Schiff had done his job...

23 posted on 02/19/2020 11:51:13 PM PST by ETCM
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: bitt

And this is from the lying bitch Rice who wanted tell the public why she lied about the Benghazi attacks and who told her (hint, hint, Hillary/Obama) to lie about a video.

Bolton lowered himself by being on the same stage with Rice. I had a high opinion of Bolton over the years, along with that of Sebastian Gorka. Looks like Sebastian is the winner of my trust.


24 posted on 02/20/2020 12:06:48 AM PST by MadMax, the Grinning Reaper
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: MadMax, the Grinning Reaper

#24. Wrong word - correction. Should be “And this is from the lying bitch who WON’T tell the public....”


25 posted on 02/20/2020 12:13:07 AM PST by MadMax, the Grinning Reaper
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 24 | View Replies]

To: bitt
"The process drove Republicans who might have voted for impeachment away" because "it was so partisan," he said.

Huh?

26 posted on 02/20/2020 12:29:40 AM PST by McGruff
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: bitt

Isn’t Bolton one of the guys that got all of our people kill and maimed after he help fire everyone in the Iraqi army?


27 posted on 02/20/2020 12:59:51 AM PST by Herakles (Diversity is applied Marxism!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: bitt
Bolton is a patriot.

Go back and take a look with new eyes.

He was "fired" on Sept. 10th. The money was released Sept. 11th.

My gut says the President Trump got him out of there before the SHTF.

28 posted on 02/20/2020 2:56:19 AM PST by Sacajaweau
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: bitt
John Rood just got fired. Likely someone that Vindman passed on info.

As far as Bolton...The man is a Patriot. He also believes the President is special...with powers greater that Congress.

My gut has a lot to say. Bolton was fired on Sept 10th. The money was released Sept 11th. I believe his departure was to get him out of the rumbling that was amiss.

This little debate tells me that my gut is right on.

Rice is an a**.

29 posted on 02/20/2020 3:07:24 AM PST by Sacajaweau
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Long Jon No Silver
These are two very different people.

Rice had absolutely no qualms about blaming the Benghazi attack on a video. She's a phony.

Bolton is a Patriot. You have to go back in his history. A war monger?? There's a lot of them. Take it for what it's worth.

30 posted on 02/20/2020 3:16:49 AM PST by Sacajaweau
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 19 | View Replies]

To: bitt

NBC bust be at the end of its tether and at the bottom of the news barrel. Both Rice and Bolton are so insignificant and meaningless on today’s news scene.


31 posted on 02/20/2020 4:39:45 AM PST by Lion Den Dan
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: bitt

Who peed in his cheerios?


32 posted on 02/20/2020 4:45:08 AM PST by ealgeone
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: bitt
"I can't imagine withholding my testimony, with or without a subpoena," Rice said.
Hold that thought. A day will come that she reverses. Total partisan hack.
33 posted on 02/20/2020 4:48:58 AM PST by Cboldt
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: bitt

I once liked Bolton. These past three years have been a revelation to me. It seems anyone who has made a career out of government or politics, even on the right, is a disappointment. Invariably they act out of self interest and are willing to sleep with the enemy.


34 posted on 02/20/2020 5:42:26 AM PST by RubinBoomer (Please be nice. I am new here. I'm open to doing things the FR way, just need to know.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: bitt

Susan Rice: “By the book”

John Bolton: “Buy my book”


35 posted on 02/20/2020 6:08:30 AM PST by Baldwin77 (They hated Reagan too ! TRUMP TOUGH - AMERICA STRONG)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-35 last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson