John Kelly: ‘I believe John Bolton’

At an event in Sarasota, Fla., on Monday, former White House chief of staff John Kelly said he believes the accounts detailed in former national security adviser John Bolton’s memoir. 

“If John Bolton says that in the book, I believe John Bolton,” Kelly said at the event, according to the Sarasota Herald-Tribune. “Every single time I was with him … he always gave the president the unvarnished truth” he said. 

“So, I think if there are people that could contribute to this, either innocence or guilt … I think they should be heard,” Kelly said at the Florida event. “I think some of the conversations seem to me to be very inappropriate, but I wasn’t there. But there are people that were there that ought to be heard from” the former military general continued. 

Kelly’s comments come after The New York Times obtained a manuscript of Bolton’s unpublished memoir Sunday. In the manuscript the former national security adviser reportedly claims President Trump personally told him he wanted to withhold about $400 million in military aid to Ukraine until it investigated the president’s political rivals, including former Vice President Joe Biden and his son, Hunter Biden.

Trump’s dealings with Ukraine are at the center of his current impeachment trial in the Senate.

The new revelation from Bolton raises questions about whether new witnesses will be called to give testimony in the coming proceedings. 

Since the Times reported the contents of the manuscript, more pressure has been on key moderate Republicans to vote for witnesses in the Senate impeachment trial. 

Sen. Mitt Romney (R-Utah) told reporters on Monday that it’s “increasingly likely” the Senate will vote to bring in witnesses. However, Rep. Mark Meadows (R-N.C.), a close ally of the president, said members who vote for witnesses could “face political repercussions,” while other GOP senators have said it’s appropriate for members to get a copy of the manuscript. 

Kelly was White House chief of staff until January 2019, and was later replaced by former Office of Management and Budget Director Mick Mulvaney, who is on the list of people Democrats would like to see testify before the Senate. 

Trump was impeached on two charges: abuse of power and obstruction of Congress.

The Senate trial is in its seventh day of proceedings. Tuesday is the last day that Trump’s defense team has to present their opening arguments.