Senators, Including Possible Swing Voters, Weigh In On Whether the Bolton News Has Moved Them To Vote for Witnesses

FILE - In this Feb. 15, 2018 file photo, Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine and Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, left, are shown during a news conference at the Capitol in Washington. The Senate battle over Donald Trump's new Supreme Court nominee is off to a fiery start _ even before the president makes his choice. Republican and Democratic leaders traded accusations and barbed comments Thursday on the new vacancy, abortion rights and the debate to come. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

FILE – In this Feb. 15, 2018 file photo, Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine and Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, left, are shown during a news conference at the Capitol in Washington. The Senate battle over Donald Trump’s new Supreme Court nominee is off to a fiery start _ even before the president makes his choice. Republican and Democratic leaders traded accusations and barbed comments Thursday on the new vacancy, abortion rights and the debate to come. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

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It isn’t hard to see that the latest Bolton news, coming at the last minute had suspicious timing, just as Republicans were completely decimating the House Democrats’ case and the likelihood that new witnesses would be foreclosed, but just at the same times as pre-orders for John Bolton’s book went live.

For anyone paying attention, it bears a striking resemblance to what happened in the case of Brett Kavanaugh, as my colleague Streiff reported earlier.

It’s a ridiculous story, ultimately, because we don’t even really know what the book draft says, we’re talking the NY Times’ word for it (and that’s a really bad idea). Indeed, now there are reports that the “investigations” referenced refer to 2016 and Ukraine’s involvement then, nothing to do with 2020.

It doesn’t matter anyway whatever President Donald Trump may or may not have told Bolton because there was no actual quid pro quo or pressure on the Ukrainians per the transcript and the Ukrainians including President Zelensky repeatedly saying it.

But Democrats have played this game before of “sway the Republican” and they know there are those who will fall for it.

So are Republicans going to hold strong, realize they’re being played and end the farce? It doesn’t sound good right now.

As we reported on Sunday, Sen. Mitt Romney (R-UT), had already indicated he was likely to vote for witnesses because he wanted to hear from Bolton.

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Now he’s claiming he thinks there are other Republicans on board with the thought.

Typical.

Now, Sen. Suan Collins (R-ME) is leaning toward it.

Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) told ABC News that “I’ve said before that I’m curious about what Ambassador Bolton might have to say. I’m still curious.”

So if those three flip they would only need one more. Of course, this shouldn’t actually be the count because all the Democrats running for president should recuse themselves. The fact that they’re not is incredible.

Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-TN) refused to commit, saying he would decide after the arguments were over and questions asked, and then he’d see if they needed anymore information.

A few more opinions:

Great point. Why don’t they just ask him? Nothing prevents him from telling media.

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Graham came to Trump’s defense saying calling more witnesses would “throw the country into chaos.”

Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) promising to call Hunter, Joe Biden and all the other witnesses if they go that route.

Good, someone who actually gets it, that’s it’s all about delay, fishing and damaging the president, but even assuming it were true, it doesn’t actually change the case. So what’s the point?

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Best response as always.

This is why I would have argued to just dismiss outright. Yes, you want an acquittal. But you have a strong case. Don’t allow Democrats to start playing these games that you know they will play. If you get witnesses, then those will not be enough and more time will be needed and you’ll be at this for months. And the basic facts that there was no quid pro quo made to the Ukrainians will not change.

HT: Townhall,

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