The House of Representatives likely wont subpoena former national security adviser John Bolton, House Intelligence Chairman Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) indicated on Jan. 13.
“We are considering whether to subpoena him in the House,” Schiff said during an appearance on ABCs “The View.” “It makes little sense to have the House depose John Bolton and then submit that deposition to the Senate.”
Bolton, who resigned in 2019 at the request of President Donald Trump, recently said he would testify to the Senate if subpoenaed by lawmakers there. House Democrats will meet on Jan. 14 to determine when to send the impeachment articles to the Senate, and the Senate trial is expected to start soon after.
“I have concluded that, if the Senate issues a subpoena for my testimony, I am prepared to testify,” Bolton said in a Jan. 6 statement.
Schiff said he thinks Bolton would fight a subpoena from the House.
“I also have to say that Im skeptical that Mr. Bolton will appear before the House. Hes refused to in the past,” Schiff said. “Hes only said he will appear before a Senate subpoena. And yes, we could expose that theres no constitutional or legal basis to distinguish between a House and Senate subpoena, but our goal is not to make John Bolton look bad or expose the hypocrisy of that position.”
Bolton wasnt subpoenaed by the House during the impeachment inquiry, unlike several other former White House officials. Boltons former aide, Charles Kupperman, filed a lawsuit after he was subpoenaed; a judge ultimately dismissed the case after the House withdrew the subpoena.
Both Schiff and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) said over the weekend that they might issue a subpoena for Bolton.
“We havent eliminated the possibility of ever subpoenaing and going forward with Bolton,” Pelosi said during an appearance on ABCs “This Week.” Asked whether the House would subpoena Bolton and other witnesses if the Senate didnt, Pelosi said, “Its not excluded.”
On CBSs “Face the Nation” on Jan. 12, Schiff said there would be “littlRead More – Source
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