The Washington Post is reporting that John Bolton now will testify in the House impeachment inquiry about his alarm at the Ukraine pressure campaign if a federal court ok’s it. Bolton won’t testify without the court ruling, the story says. He was supposed to appear today but did not appear.
“We regret Mr. Bolton’s decision not to appear voluntarily, but we have no interest in allowing the administration to play rope-a-dope with us in the courts for months,” said the official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because of the ongoing investigation. “Rather, the White House instruction that he not appear will add to the evidence of the president’s obstruction of Congress.”
I think that the Democrats consider that him appearing in only a public hearing would be a wild card that they don’t want to play. He has been pretty outspoken in the past that he considers that the POTUS has absolute power to direct foreign policy. And although he might have a chip on his shoulder when it comes to Trump he still might run cover for him in a hearing. I think that the Democrats think that they will have enough evidence with the multiple witnesses that they have.
Note this quote from the link in the OP. Looks like Bolton is reacting to the White House and wants a clear path.
“We regret Mr. Bolton’s decision not to appear voluntarily, but we have no interest in allowing the administration to play rope-a-dope with us in the courts for months,” said the official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because of the ongoing investigation. “Rather, the White House instruction that he not appear will add to the evidence of the president’s obstruction of Congress.”
" WASHINGTON – [Former National Security Adviser John Bolton refused to appear before the House impeachment panel on Thursday and his lawyer told Democrats he would fight a congressional subpoena.
“His counsel has informed us … Mr. Bolton would take us to court if we subpoenaed him,” a House Intelligence Committee official told USA TODAY."
