WASHINGTON — John Bolton, President Donald Trump’s national security adviser, met privately with the president in August as part of a bid to persuade Trump to release $391 million in security assistance to Ukraine, a senior National Security Council aide told House impeachment investigators last month.
It also underlines the dilemma that House Democrats face over their decision to press ahead with proceedings without his testimony. This month, Bolton’s lawyer told House investigators that his client could discuss “many relevant meetings and conversations” of interest to their inquiry, but he has so far refused to appear without a subpoena and a court order. Democrats have said that Bolton should show up as is and that they would not waste their time in court.
In addition to Morrison’s transcript, House Democrats released the transcript of a November interview with Jennifer Williams, a longtime State Department employee with expertise in Europe and Russia who is detailed to Vice President Mike Pence’s national security staff. Still, the transcripts filled in many details, some of them colorful, about the events under scrutiny by the House and clarified the set of facts both parties are working with as they prepare for another week packed with public hearings.
“My consistent direction from Ambassador Bolton was, ‘Do not get involved, and make sure the lawyers are tracking,’” Morrison said, referring to Sondland and the efforts he was involved in. Morrison’s predecessor as the National Security Council’s senior director for Russia and Europe told investigators that Bolton issued a similar instruction after a run-in with Sondland, who will testify publicly this week.
Sondland was blunter, though, he later told Morrison. He told Zelenskiy’s adviser that “what could help them move the aid was if the prosecutor general would go to the mic and announce that he was opening” the investigation Trump wanted. Republicans believe the testimony undercuts Democrats’ allegation that the White House was trying to cover up the call. But it does not explain why the call summary was not removed from the highly secure server when Eisenberg learned it was there.
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