Former Acting Solicitor General: Trump ‘should have nothing to fear’if he’s innocent — and his refusal to testify ‘speaks volumes’

AlterNet logoIt remains to be seen who will or won’t testify at President Donald Trump’s impeachment trial in the U.S. Senate; former National Security Adviser John Bolton has said that he would testify if subpoenaed. And attorney Neal Katyal, former acting solicitor general in the Obama Administration, has another idea for a witness: Trump himself.

Sunday on Twitter, Trump reiterated his assertion that his impeachment is nothing more than a “witch hunt” carried out by “partisan” Democrats. Trump posted, “Many believe that by the Senate giving credence to a trial based on the no evidence, no crime, read the transcripts, ‘no pressure’ Impeachment Hoax, rather than an outright dismissal, it gives the partisan Democrat Witch Hunt credibility that it otherwise does not have. I agree!”

Katyal, in response, tweeted, “So come and testify and explain why 18 witnesses, many from your own Administration, have testified in Congress and thrown the book at you. So far, the count is 18-0. Your party controls the Senate. If you are innocent, you should have nothing to fear.”  Continue reading.

George Conway and Neal Katyal educate Mitch McConnell on how to hold a real impeachment trial — and explain why John Bolton must testify

AlterNet logoAttorneys George Conway and Neal Katyal have written an editorial for the New York Times in which they call on Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) to stop trying to protect President Donald Trump and hold a real impeachment trial in the Senate.

In particular, the editorial hammers McConnell for declaring that there’s no chance Trump will be removed from office before hearing former national security adviser John Bolton’s testimony.

“Remember that the diplomat Fiona Hill testified at the House impeachment hearings that Mr. Bolton called the pressuring of Ukraine by the administration a ‘drug deal’ and said he wanted no part of it,” they write. “Mr. Bolton himself has said that he possesses new information that has not been revealed. He even gave a speech saying that some of Mr. Trump’s foreign policy decisions were made in his self-interest, not in the interest of the American people.” Continue reading.