Rand Paul pledges to force Hunter Biden vote if GOP backs Dem impeachment witnesses

By Jordain Carney - 01/13/20 09:34 PM EST
 
 
"My colleagues can’t have it both ways. Calling for some, while blocking others," Paul tweeted, referencing a Politico report on a similar private warning he gave his GOP colleagues against supporting Senate Minority Leader Charles SchumerChuck SchumerBiden confident Republicans will vote to raise debt ceiling Hochul touts readiness, distance from Cuomo Senate confirms Biden's first ambassador MORE's (D-N.Y.) request that former national security adviser John BoltonJohn BoltonWant to evaluate Donald Trump's judgment? Listen to Donald Trump Will Pence primary Trump — and win? Bolton: Trump lacked enough 'advance thinking' for a coup MORE testify. 
 
"If we are going to give a platform to witnesses the Dems demand, I look forward to forcing votes to call Hunter Biden and many more!" Paul continued. 
 
 
 
Sen. Susan CollinsSusan Margaret CollinsA tale of two chambers: Trump's power holds in House, wanes in Senate Bipartisan blip: Infrastructure deal is last of its kind without systemic change The Memo: Biden beats Trump again — this time in the Senate MORE (R-Maine) said last week that she was working with a small group of Republican senators to ensure the resolution allows for both Trump's team and House impeachment managers to call witnesses. 
 
Collins has not said if she would support calling witnesses, agreeing, along with the rest of the Senate GOP conference, to delay that decision until after opening arguments and questions from senators. 
 
Sen. Mitt RomneyWillard (Mitt) Mitt RomneyA tale of two chambers: Trump's power holds in House, wanes in Senate China eclipses Russia as the world's 'biggest bad' actor Bipartisan blip: Infrastructure deal is last of its kind without systemic change MORE (R-Utah) has said that he wants to hear from Bolton during the trial but has not specified how he thinks his testimony should be given. Bolton was one of four witnesses requested by Democrats and said he would testify if subpoenaed. 
 
"I support the Clinton model, which means that we will have opening arguments first. Then we'll have a vote on witnesses, and at that stage I presume I'll be voting in favor of hearing from John Bolton, perhaps among others. That could change," Romney told reporters on Monday. 
 
Democrats would need to peel off four Republican senators to successfully call a witness or compel the administration to hand over Ukraine-related documents. 
 
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnellAddison (Mitch) Mitchell McConnellMcConnell calls for US airstrikes to stop Taliban advance Vietnam shadow hangs over Biden decision on Afghanistan The Hill's 12:30 Report - Presented by Facebook - US deals with Afghanistan withdrawal fallout MORE (R-Ky.) has said he does not believe either side should call witnesses and warned Democrats last month that if they successfully call a witness, Republicans could try to call individuals Democrats would oppose, such as Hunter Biden.

McConnell told Fox News Radio that opening the door to witnesses would pave the way for a "kind of mutual assured destruction," adding that Republicans would "want the whistleblower. We're going to want Hunter Biden."

"You can see here that this would be a kind of mutual assured destruction episode that would go on for a long time," McConnell said. 

Alexander Bolton contributed.

Tags Mitch McConnell Charles Schumer Susan Collins Donald Trump John Bolton Mitt Romney Rand Paul