Democrats step up pressure over witnesses after Bolton bombshell | TheHill – The Hill

Democrats, including House impeachment managers, immediately seized on the report, arguing it underscores the need for Bolton and other administration officials to testify.

"Amb. Bolton reportedly heard directly from Trump that aid for Ukraine was tied to political investigations. The refusal of the Senate to call for him, other relevant witnesses, and documents is now even more indefensible," Pelosi tweeted.

"There is no defensible reason to wait until his book is published, when the information he has to offer is critical to the most important decision Senators must now make whether to convict the President of impeachable offenses," they continued.

The Times report comes asa curveball in the middle of Trump's impeachment trial, which could wrap as soon as this week.

Trump's legal team began presenting its defense on Saturday, includingarguing that the president's decision to hold up Ukraine aid was tied to concerns about corruption or a beliefthat Europe wasn't doing enough to support Ukraine.

The push for Bolton's testimony comes as the Senate could vote as soon as midweek on whether to allow new witnesses or documents. In addition to Bolton, Democrats want to hear from acting chief of staff Mick Mulvaney, Mulvaney's adviser Robert Blair and Michael Duffey, an Office of Management and Budget staffer.

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Democrats step up pressure over witnesses after Bolton bombshell | TheHill - The Hill