Former national security adviser John Bolton
John BoltonChina sees chance to expand global influence amid pandemic Trump ignores science at our peril Bolton defends decision to shutter NSC pandemic office MORE reportedly claims in his as yet unpublished memoir that President Trump
Donald John TrumpCDC updates website to remove dosage guidance on drug touted by Trump Trump says he'd like economy to reopen 'with a big bang' but acknowledges it may be limited Graham backs Trump, vows no money for WHO in next funding bill MORE sought to tie hundreds of millions of dollars in aid to Ukraine to his requests for the country's leaders to investigate former Vice President Joe Biden
Joe BidenTrump shakes up WH communications team The Hill's Campaign Report: Wisconsin votes despite coronavirus pandemic The Intercept's Ryan Grim says Cuomo is winning over critics MORE and his son Hunter Biden.
Multiple sources familiar with Bolton's book told The New York Times that he writes that President Trump personally told him that $391 million in aid to Ukraine should be frozen until Ukrainian officials announced the investigations, including one into the Democratic National Committee.
The book, which does not have a publication date as of yet, has been submitted to the White House for review. White House officials did not immediately return a request for comment from The Hill on the report.
An attorney for President Trump, Rudy Giuliani
Rudy GiulianiThe Hill's Morning Report - Presented by Facebook - Trump: Tough times but progress being made Giuliani touts experimental coronavirus treatment in private conversations with Trump Trump team picks fight with Twitter, TV networks over political speech MORE, responded in a statement obtained by ABC News: "I used to like and respect John, and tell people they were wrong about how irresponsible he was. I was wrong."
"He never once expressed concern to me. If he had confronted me, I could have explained it to him.....He wasn’t man enough to just ask and instead makes false and irresponsible barges to write a book about his failed career."
Giuliani reacts to Bolton report in the Times - telling me via text: "I used to like and respect John [Bolton] and tell people they were wrong about how irresponsible he was. I was wrong." More @ABC
— John Santucci (@Santucci) January 27, 2020
More from Rudy - "He [Bolton] never once expressed concern to me. If he had confronted me, I could have explained it to him.....He [Bolton] wasn’t man enough to just ask and instead makes false and irresponsible barges to write a book about his failed career." https://t.co/2xjRyuH82n
— John Santucci (@Santucci) January 27, 2020
The report comes as the Senate has debated for days over whether to allow witnesses in Trump's ongoing impeachment trial beyond those who spoke to House investigators in past months.
Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer
Charles (Chuck) Ellis SchumerHealth care workers account for 20 percent of Iowa coronavirus cases Pressure mounts on Congress for quick action with next coronavirus bill Schumer names coronavirus czar candidates in plea to White House MORE (D-N.Y.), who has pressed Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell
Addison (Mitch) Mitchell McConnellLawmakers outline proposals for virtual voting Overnight Health Care: Trump calls report on hospital shortages 'another fake dossier' | Trump weighs freezing funding to WHO | NY sees another 731 deaths | States battle for supplies | McConnell, Schumer headed for clash Phase-four virus relief hits a wall MORE (R-Ky.) to allow such witnesses to testify, reiterated his demand following news of Bolton's allegations.
"John Bolton has the evidence," he tweeted. "It’s up to four Senate Republicans to ensure that John Bolton, Mick Mulvaney
Mick MulvaneyOne year in, Democrats frustrated by fight for Trump tax returns Meadows joins White House in crisis mode Meadows resigns from Congress, heads to White House MORE, and the others with direct knowledge of President Trump’s actions testify in the Senate trial."
John Bolton has the evidence.
— Chuck Schumer
It’s up to four Senate Republicans to ensure that John Bolton, Mick Mulvaney, and the others with direct knowledge of President Trump’s actions testify in the Senate trial.https://t.co/JbazBaYdRU
Bolton's lawyer confirmed the authenticity of the Times's report in a tweet, writing that he regretted that excerpts had been leaked during the classification and review process.
Bolton lawyer statement: pic.twitter.com/W7oJlLr5pt
— Zeke Miller (@ZekeJMiller) January 27, 2020
Bolton left the White House last year, with the president and his former aide disagreeing publicly at the time over whether he had been fired or resigned. The claim in his upcoming book revealed Sunday directly contradicts statements from Trump and other administration officials who have denied that aid to Ukraine was ever tied to the president's efforts to convince Ukraine's president to open investigations.
