Bolton reportedly raised alarm to Barr about Trump
John Bolton, the former national security adviser, told Attorney General William Barr that he was worried President Donald Trump had grown too friendly with the strongman leaders of China and Turkey, according to accounts in an unpublished book Bolton wrote that was obtained by The New York Times.
The report Monday is the second bombshell revelation from the unpublished manuscript this week. Bolton also reportedly wrote in the book draft that Trump said he wanted to continue to hold nearly $400 million in military aid to Ukraine until the country’s leader agreed to announce an investigation into former Vice President Joe Biden and his son Hunter, the Times reported.
The report, if true, counters Trump’s impeachment defense that the aid was held up merely because of concerns about general corruption and that the demand for the Biden investigation was a separate matter, not a quid pro quo.
Trump has rejected the reported book account, writing on Twitter that he never told Bolton “the aid to Ukraine was tied to investigations into Democrats.”
“In fact, he never complained about this at the time of his very public termination,” the president continued.
Trump’s pressure on Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky was the basis for two articles of impeachment in the House: one for abuse of power and the other for obstruction of Congress. The Senate is currently holding a trial to determine if the president should be removed from office.
Bolton has not testified before lawmakers but has said he would do so if subpoenaed.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
This article originally appeared on HuffPost.
