This archive report was first published on 7 November 2019.
Trump Impeachment Inquiry: Bolton Skips Voluntary Interview, Pence Aide Testifies ¶
On Thursday, November 7, 2019, John R. Bolton, President Trump's former national security adviser, skipped a voluntary interview as part of the House impeachment inquiry. Bolton's absence was not unexpected, as his lawyer had previously stated that he would file a lawsuit in federal court if subpoenaed.
According to an official with the House Intelligence Committee, Bolton's lawyer had informed them that the former national security adviser would file a lawsuit if subpoenaed, which would likely take months to resolve. The committee did not want to engage in a lengthy court battle, as they had done with Charles M. Kupperman, Bolton's deputy, who had filed a lawsuit after being subpoenaed.
Meanwhile, Jennifer Williams, a national security aide to Vice President Mike Pence, testified in a closed-door deposition on Thursday. Williams, a longtime State Department employee with expertise in Europe and Russia, was among the officials who listened to the July 25 call between President Trump and President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine.
Impeachment investigators were expected to press Williams about her thoughts on the July 25 call and the extent of Pence's understanding of the president's attempts to pressure Ukraine to commit to investigations of his political rivals. Her testimony could draw Pence further into the inquiry.
House Democrats had subpoenaed Williams after the White House attempted to keep her from testifying. Williams has spent most of her adult life in government service, including 13 years at the State Department.
Two witnesses who had previously testified, Lt. Col. Alexander S. Vindman and Christopher J. Anderson, were also at the Capitol for a routine review of the testimony transcripts.
House Republicans have until Saturday to request witnesses for the public impeachment hearings starting next week. Democrats leading the impeachment inquiry have invited Republicans to request witnesses, but warned that witnesses must be directly relevant to the focus of the inquiry.
