Former national security adviser John Bolton has said he will testify before the Senate if he is subpoenaed during the impeachment trial. This revelation has already given the Democratic Party even more of an incentive to delay passing the House’s articles of impeachment to the Senate, and it will undoubtedly put more pressure on uncertain, moderate Senate Republicans who have been trying to avoid the spotlight.
Republican leadership wants a fast impeachment trial. This makes sense: The sooner the trial begins, the sooner it will result in an acquittal. But there are at least three Republican senators who have expressed concern with Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell’s attempts to rush the process, and Bolton’s willingness to testify could convince them to side with the Democrats and call on McConnell to allow witnesses during the trial.
Senate Democrats need four votes to pass trial rules that would allow the Senate to subpoena Bolton and three other White House officials who have not yet testified. Republican Sen. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska has said she’s not sure how she’ll vote yet, though she did say McConnell’s maneuvering has “disturbed” her. Republican Sen. Susan Collins of Maine has been even more reserved, but she did admit she would not have handled the Democrats’ requests the way McConnell did. And Republican Sen. Mitt Romney of Utah has offered little opinion on the subject other than to say he needs to “talk to others and get their perspectives.”
Each of these senators, however, has demonstrated a willingness to break from the GOP. They did so late last year when they didn’t sign a Senate resolution condemning the House impeachment investigation. And they have each been vocally critical of Trump at one point or another.
Even if Democrats can convince Murkowski, Collins, and Romney to flip sides, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer will still need one more vote. Another option that’s been tossed around is Republican Sen. Lamar Alexander of Tennessee, according to Politico. Schumer seems confident that he can win over all four, declaring that “even if McConnell doesn’t want it, I expect at least four Republicans will be for witnesses.”
It’s unlikely Schumer will win over any of them. Already, Collins has said Schumer’s behavior is “not a promising sign,” and that it’s a “typical, inappropriate approach that indicates he’s not really sincerely interested in negotiation.”
But Bolton’s offer could accomplish what Schumer could not. Romney has been openly critical of Trump’s dealings with Ukraine, as has Collins. And if there’s a chance Bolton could elaborate on what occurred between Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, Romney and the rest might decide that that information is more important than an immediate acquittal.
