FILE – In this Oct. 11, 2012, file photo, Hunter Biden waits for the start of his father’s, Vice President Joe Biden’s, debate at Centre College in Danville, Ky. In 2014, then-Vice President Joe Biden was at the forefront of American diplomatic efforts to support Ukraine’s fragile democratic government as it sought to fend off Russian aggression and root out corruption. So it raised eyebrows when Biden’s son Hunter was hired by a Ukrainian gas company. President Donald Trump prodded Ukraine’s president to help him investigate any corruption related to Joe Biden, now one of the top Democrats seeking to defeat Trump in 2020. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais, File)

When the Senate opened for Impeachment Trial operations yesterday at 1:00 PM EST, the expectation was that the President’s team would have to spend some significant time directly addressing the (suspiciously convenient) leak of Ambassador Bolton’s latest book draft. In it, the New York Times claims (of course without corroboration) that Bolton spills the beans on President Trump, allegedly writing that President Trump did indeed expect a “political investigation” in exchange for the release of military aid to Ukraine.

Surprising many and impressing a few, including me, the Trump Team did not go that route. At no time did I hear them (that’s not to say it didn’t happen) directly address this “Bolton Bombshell” by name. Early on, however, they did subtly address it, by making a very mild statement about “process” and “we don’t bother with rumor, innuendo or unsubstantiated information,” or words to that effect.

Here’s the best part. During the last part of the Defense’s efforts today, President Trump’s defense team deftly put down a “Biden Witness Marker.” It was actually pretty slick. The ever-lovely and hard-as-woodpecker-lips, former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi put down a marker—-and a warning regarding Bolton and the Bidens.

Bondi spent a lot of time detailing story after story regarding Biden fils and his Burisima & China issues. Her sources included a number of leftist publications such as the New York Times and the Washington Post. Other sources were government law enforcement and intelligence agencies…from Great Britain and Ukraine, to name two. The litany was damning. After hearing one accusation after another, like some juggernaut of corruption most foul, the only question, is, “Why has not Hunter Biden already been indicted.”

Here is the message, delivered in a manner that even the Democrats, as unintelligent as they are, should be able to understand, “If you guys ram thru a Bolton subpoena and testimony, then bet your a** we are surely gonna drag Biden fils and possibly pere, in here—and we’ve just established the legal basis to do it.”

My assessment? Trump’s Team knows “how to lawyer.” They are a far cry from the crew led by Schiff. they are methodical and they know the law. They also appear to be a whole lot smarter. My message to Schiff et al? Bring it.

EDIT: Once again, my commenters prove they are more on the ball than I am. “tobybrut,” pointed out that Dershowitz pointed directly to Bolton. Great catch.