Published 15:47 IST, October 31st 2019
John Bolton summoned for first big vote on Trump's impeachment probe
In the ongoing impeachment probe against the President of United States, Donald Trump, the House Investigators have asked for John Bolton to testify in court
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In the ongoing impeachment probe against the President of United States Donald Trump, the House Investigators have asked for the former national security advisor John Bolton to testify the inquiry which will also be the first big vote to remove the President. The Democratic lawmakers said that they want to hear from Bolton next week on November 7 who openly criticised the controversial phone call between Ukrainian President, Volodymyr Zelensky and the US leader which is also the center of the impeachment investigation.
Bolton has specifically sparred over President Trump's personal attorney, Rudy Giuliani for a back-channel operation and has been scheduled to be deposed on Thursday while the attorneys of National Security Council, John Eisenberg, and Michael Ellis will appear on November 4. Earlier Bolton's attorney Charles Cooper had reportedly said that his client will not voluntarily testify in the court without a subpoena, as requested by the court.
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The first official vote on Thursday
The new possible witnesses are being summoned to the court as the House of investigators are preparing to take the first official vote on Thursday. Furthermore, the next step in the impeachment inquiry will be a public hearing which is in a matter of weeks and then the drafting of articles of impeachment for the removal of President Trump. While the White House has been urging the officials to not testify in the impeachment proceedings, there is still uncertainty about the people who would appear in the court for depositions even after receiving subpoenas.
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Kupperman's lawsuit
The former deputy of Bolton, Charles Kupperman has filed a lawsuit in the federal court to ask the judge if he can be forced to testify as Kupperman was a close and frequent advisor of President Trump. The ruling of this case will also determine whether Bolton will testify in the court as per the court request. Meanwhile, the US President along with his Republican allies have said that the entire impeachment inquiry is unpersuaded by the House resolution and also is an 'illegitimate sham'. On November 7, the investigators will reportedly also hear from a former top GOP aide on Capitol Hill, Tim Morrison who announced on October 30 that he will be resigning from the office but is still the central figure in testimony about US and Ukraine.
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Public Impeachment inquiry
The Democrats have published a resolution to unveil the future procedures involved in the impeachment inquiry against the President of the United States, Donald Trump on October 30. A statement was released by the House Intelligence Committee that the evidence along with the testimonies collected from the impeachment inquiry will be made public to 'firsthand' about the alleged misuse of power by President Trump. The Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi also confirmed the meeting saying that the House has been following the evidence that has made Donald Trump's own words on his call with the Ukrainian President, 'more appalling'.
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(With AP inputs)
13:23 IST, October 31st 2019