Trump lashed out at Bolton on Twitter, saying his former aide was coming out with potentially damaging allegations in an upcoming “nasty & untrue book,” because he was fired from his White House position. The fight over Bolton’s testimony intensified as the senators who would decide Trump’s fate began directly questioning Democratic prosecutors and White House lawyers. They were to return yesterday to pose further questions to the White House defense lawyers and the seven House prosecutors seeking Trump’s removal from office for abuse of power and obstruction of Congress. “This case is overwhelmingly clear without John Bolton, but if you have any question about it you can erase all doubt.”White House deputy counsel Patrick Philbin said that the House had not subpoenaed Bolton and his appearance would present “grave security issues.”“He has all of the nation’s secrets,” Philbin said. The White House would seek to prevent Bolton’s testimony and the matter would end up in a lengthy legal battle in the courts, he added.

Source: Taipei Times January 30, 2020 16:04 UTC