Democrats are stepping up pressure on Republicans to support calling witnesses as part of President Trump
Donald TrumpSchumer: Impeachment trial will be quick, doesn't need a lot of witnesses Nurse to be tapped by Biden as acting surgeon general: report Schumer calls for Biden to declare climate emergency MORE's impeachment trial after a bombshell New York Times report Sunday evening. The Times, citing sources familiar with former national security adviser John Bolton
John BoltonPence, other GOP officials expected to skip Trump send-off NSA places former GOP political operative in top lawyer position after Pentagon chief's reported order After insurrection: The national security implications MORE's unpublished memoir, reported that Bolton claims President Trump sought to tie $391 million in aid to Ukraine to his requests for the country's leaders to investigate former Vice President Joe Biden
Joe BidenBudowsky: A Biden-McConnell state of emergency summit DC might win US House vote if it tries Inaugural poet Amanda Gorman inks deal with IMG Models MORE and his son Hunter Biden. The Hill has not seen or verified the manuscript.



Democrats, including House impeachment managers, immediately seized on the report, arguing it underscores the need for Bolton and other administration officials to testify.
"John Bolton has the evidence," Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer
Chuck SchumerMcConnell: Power-sharing deal can proceed after Manchin, Sinema back filibuster Justice watchdog to probe whether officials sought to interfere with election Capitol insurrection fallout: A PATRIOT Act 2.0? MORE (D-N.Y.) wrote in a tweet. "It’s up to four Senate Republicans to ensure that John Bolton, Mick Mulvaney
Mick MulvaneyTrump campaign had paid .7M to organizers of rally ahead of Capitol riot: report Consumer bureau director resigns after Biden's inauguration FDA chief says he was 'disgusted' by Capitol riots, considered resigning MORE, and the others with direct knowledge of President Trump’s actions testify in the Senate trial."


House Speaker Nancy Pelosi
Nancy PelosiOklahoma man who videotaped himself with his feet on desk in Pelosi's office during Capitol riot released on bond House formally sends impeachment to Senate, putting Trump on trial for Capitol riot With another caravan heading North, a closer look at our asylum law MORE (D-Calif.) said the Times report gave Republican senators a choice between "our Constitution or a cover-up."

"Amb. Bolton reportedly heard directly from Trump that aid for Ukraine was tied to political investigations. The refusal of the Senate to call for him, other relevant witnesses, and documents is now even more indefensible," Pelosi tweeted.
"There is no defensible reason to wait until his book is published, when the information he has to offer is critical to the most important decision Senators must now make — whether to convict the President of impeachable offenses," they continued.
The Times report comes as a curveball in the middle of Trump's impeachment trial, which could wrap as soon as this week.
Trump's legal team began presenting its defense on Saturday, including arguing that the president's decision to hold up Ukraine aid was tied to concerns about corruption or a belief that Europe wasn't doing enough to support Ukraine.
The push for Bolton's testimony comes as the Senate could vote as soon as midweek on whether to allow new witnesses or documents. In addition to Bolton, Democrats want to hear from acting chief of staff Mick Mulvaney, Mulvaney's adviser Robert Blair and Michael Duffey, an Office of Management and Budget staffer.
Sen. Chris Van Hollen
Christopher (Chris) Van HollenSenators introduce bill to award Officer Goodman the Congressional Gold Medal Romney calls for Senate to pass sanctions on Putin over Navalny poisoning 'I saw my life flash before my eyes': An oral history of the Capitol attack MORE (D-Md.) tweeted that Republicans have "run out of excuses" to oppose calling new witnesses.

Sen. Amy Klobuchar
Amy KlobucharSenators spar over validity of Trump impeachment trial Sunday shows - Biden agenda, Trump impeachment trial dominate Klobuchar says Senate impeachment trial of former official is constitutional: 'We have precedent' MORE (D-Minn.), who is running for the party's presidential nomination, added, "As I’ve said all week, the truth will come out. And it just did. Testify."

Democrats need four Republicans to side with them to call witnesses, an uphill battle given the party's unity so far on impeachment.
Sen. Mitt Romney
Willard (Mitt) Mitt RomneyHouse formally sends impeachment to Senate, putting Trump on trial for Capitol riot Bernie Sanders has been most-followed member of Congress on social media for six years The Hill's Morning Report - Biden: Focus on vaccine, virus, travel MORE (R-Utah) has said that he wants to hear from Bolton. He added on Saturday that he was "very likely" to support calling witnesses.

Sens. Susan Collins
Susan Margaret CollinsCollins: Minimum wage increase should be separate from COVID-19 relief package The Hill's Morning Report - Biden: Focus on vaccine, virus, travel Moderates vow to 'be a force' under Biden MORE (R-Maine) and Lisa Murkowski
Lisa Ann MurkowskiModerates vow to 'be a force' under Biden Senators spar over validity of Trump impeachment trial Trump impeachment trial to begin week of Feb. 8 MORE (R-Alaska) have both signaled they are keeping an open mind on whether to call witnesses. Spokespeople for the two senators did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Sunday.


Sen. Lamar Alexander
Lamar AlexanderCongress addressed surprise medical bills, but the issue is not resolved Trump renominates Judy Shelton in last-ditch bid to reshape Fed Senate swears-in six new lawmakers as 117th Congress convenes MORE (R-Tenn.) — who is retiring but also is a close ally to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell
Addison (Mitch) Mitchell McConnellSchumer: Impeachment trial will be quick, doesn't need a lot of witnesses McConnell: Power-sharing deal can proceed after Manchin, Sinema back filibuster Budowsky: A Biden-McConnell state of emergency summit MORE (R-Ky.) — has been tight-lipped about if he will ultimately support witnesses.


"After I hear both sides, and after we have a chance to answer our questions, I think it shouldn't be difficult to decide if we need additional documents or additional witnesses," he said on Saturday. "But I don't think it's appropriate to decide that before then."