Nation/World

House committees seek testimony from John Bolton as Dems push impeachment resolution forward

WASHINGTON - House committees are seeking testimony from former national security adviser John Bolton, as President Donald Trump, White House officials and the House Republican leadership are working behind the scenes to keep GOP members in line ahead of Thursday’s critical vote on the impeachment process.

Lawmakers want to question Bolton about his frustration with Trump's allies, including Rudy Giuliani, who were pressing Ukraine to investigate Democrats, according to two officials who spoke on the condition of anonymity to speak frankly.

Lawmakers want to question Bolton about his frustration with Trump's allies, including Giuliani, who were pressing Ukraine to investigate Democrats, according to two officials who spoke on the condition of anonymity to be candid.

The committees want Bolton to testify behind closed doors on Nov. 7.

Lawmakers have also asked two National Security Council staffers, John Eisenberg and Michael Ellis, to testify on Nov. 4.

A federal judge has scheduled for 4 p.m. Thursday a hearing on the case of former Trump national security aide Charles Kupperman, who has sued asking the courts to decide whether he must comply with Congress's subpoena or a White House order not to testify in an impeachment inquiry.

The hearing had initially been set for 3 p.m. The Department of Justice asked to move it to Friday because of a conflict with the hearing about the testimony of former White House counsel Donald McGahn. But U.S. District Judge Richard Leon agreed only to move the hearing by one hour.

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Meanwhile, House investigators heard from two more witnesses behind closed doors Wednesday about the Ukraine controversy. Two career State Department officials are the latest scheduled witnesses to be deposed in the accelerating inquiry.

Christopher Anderson, the second of two State Department officials scheduled to testify on Wednesday, arrived at the Capitol for his deposition.

Anderson was expected to detail efforts when U.S. officials tried to demonstrate support for Ukraine only to be batted down by the White House, including after Russian forces attacked and seized Ukrainian military vessels in the Sea of Azov in 2018, according to prepared remarks.

[Testimony from career diplomats will outline Trump’s dark view of Ukraine]

[Two West Wing meetings become focus of impeachment inquiry]

Catherine Croft appeared under a subpoena, according to an official working on the impeachment inquiry who requested anonymity to discuss closed-door proceedings.

"In light of an attempt by the White House and State Department to direct Catherine Croft not to appear for her scheduled deposition, and efforts to also limit any testimony that does occur, the House Intelligence Committee issued a subpoena to compel her testimony this morning," the official said, adding that Croft was fielding questions from both Democratic and Republican lawmakers and staff.

A Democratic-led panel was expected to vote Wednesday afternoon to advance the resolution, which sets the parameters of the public phase of the Trump impeachment inquiry. The White House is planning to invite a group of Republicans to meet with Trump before the Thursday roll call, hoping to rally the troops.

While Republicans have been highly critical of the process, Trump is urging his allies to defend him on the substance of the allegations against him. He argues he did nothing wrong during the July call in which he pressed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to investigate former vice president Joe Biden and his son Hunter Biden.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., criticized the Democratic-backed resolution setting the parameters for the next stage of the impeachment inquiry, saying it falls "way short" in providing due process protections for Trump.

"Yesterday, House Democrats released their much-hyped resolution, which was advertised as bringing fairness and due process into Speaker Pelosi and Chairman Schiff's closed-door impeach inquiry," McConnell said, referencing House Speaker Nancy Pelosi , D-Calif., and House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff, D-Calif.

"Unfortunately, the draft resolution that has been released does nothing of the sort. It falls way short, way short."

McConnell said protections for Trump in the resolution are inadequate, characterizing them as "no due process now, but maybe some later, but only if we feel like it."

If Trump is impeached by the House, a trial will be held in the Republican-controlled Senate.

Also Wednesday, Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., a key Trump ally in the impeachment fight, announced Wednesday that he is filing an ethics complaint against House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff, D-Calif., who is leading the inquiry.

Speaking to reporters outside the secure room where depositions take place, Gaetz said the complaint stemmed in part from Schiff's opening statement at an Intelligence Committee hearing last month.

During his remarks, Schiff presented an embellished version of Trump's call with Zelensky. At the time, Schiff said he was conveying "the essence" of what Trump had relayed to Zelensky. Schiff later said it was meant as a parody, something that he said should have been apparent to Trump and others who have been critical.

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"He acted in a way that was not consistent with House rules and not consistent with House ethics," Gaetz said.

Trump has also repeatedly cited the episode as he has railed against the House-led inquiry.

Gaetz also cited an episode earlier this month in which he attempted to enter a deposition and was removed by Schiff because he does not sit on one of the three committee leading the inquiry.

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