Bolton, publishers deny coordinating book leak with NYT

John Bolton and his publishing team are denying any claims that they leaked details of the former national security adviser’s unpublished manuscript to The New York Times following a bombshell report in the newspaper Sunday night.

The Times first reported that Bolton’s book will say President Trump wanted to withhold nearly $400 million in U.S. aid to Ukraine until the country’s president, Volodymyr Zelensky, committed to opening investigations, including into former Vice President Joe Biden, a 2020 political rival.

The report came one day before the White House defense team was set to begin its second day of arguments fighting against the impeachment charges brought forward by House Democrats. The timing has led some Republicans to raise questions about the report.

But Bolton and his team say “categorically” in a statement that did not work with the Times to publish such details.  

Still, the Times report has sparked a wave of reactions on Capitol Hill, with Democrats stepping up their calls for witnesses to testify.

And some Republicans on Monday appeared increasingly open to the idea of hearing Bolton and other witnesses testify following news of the report.

Sen. Mitt Romney (R-Utah) recently said that “it’s very likely” he’ll vote for additional witnesses.

But it’s unclear if Democrats will get the four Republican votes needed to call witnesses. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) and other Republicans have been against the idea, arguing that the House should’ve subpoenaed Bolton during their impeachment inquiry rather than wait until the Senate trial to pursue such evidence.

House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), the lead impeachment manager, has defended not subpoenaing Bolton, arguing that they would’ve still be fighting the former Trump official in the courts for his testimony if they had gone down that path.

Schiff on Monday told reporters that in order for the Senate to give a fair trial over Trump’s contacts with Ukraine, they must be able to call Bolton and other witnesses to testify.