Posted on 11/08/2019 11:31:54 AM PST by yesthatjallen
An attorney for former national security adviser John Bolton and former deputy national security adviser Charles Kupperman said Friday he is "dismayed" that his clients will not be be compelled to testify in the ongoing House impeachment inquiry after lawmakers refused to issue subpoenas.
Charles J. Cooper, whose clients declined to testify voluntarily, wrote in a letter to House General Counsel Douglas Letter obtained by The Hill that he had hoped to determine in court whether House subpoenas to testify or the White House's assertion of executive privilege took precedence.
"We are dismayed that the Committees have chosen not to join us in seeking resolution from the Judicial Branch of this momentous Constitutional question as expeditiously as possible," Cooper wrote. "It is important both to Dr. Kupperman and to Ambassador Bolton to get a definitive judgment from the Judicial Branch determining their Constitutional duty in the face of conflicting demands of the Legislative and Executive Branches."
"Dr. Kupperman stands ready, as does Ambassador Bolton, to testify if the Judiciary resolves the conflict in favor of the Legislative Branch’s position respecting such testimony," he added.
SNIP
(Excerpt) Read more at thehill.com ...
What's the dynamic? Bolton allegedly wants to testify but only if compelled and Democrats won't issue a subpoena?
Sounds like Schiff didn’t think he was going to get what he wants from Bolton. Or he is saving him for later.
I think they may have figured out that Bolton is planning on telling them things they don’t want to hear.
The only reason to be dismayed would because you were hoping the court would give you a CYA to go testify. I can think of no other reason to bitch that the congress hasn’t pushed it.
Exactly, which leads me to think I may have been suckered in by the media on Bolton. If he was going to say things unfavorable to Trump, they’d have subpoenas on his doorstep in triplicate.
Wish I hadn’t bought in to it now. Grumpy...
What he meant was:
"...but we have no interest in having our butt handed to us in court, proving us impotent."
I think if your lawyer is disappointed you didn’t get subpoenaed, it’s time to get a new lawyer.
This "equal" cr** for the 3 branches just isn't so. They have different functions.
And as far as the Judicial....Our forefathers knew it was problematic...since there is no check.
Fake impeachment side show does not have the authority to issue subpoenas.
Actually they are only willing to testify if they receive subpoenas, which they then will take to the court system to answer the question if they can be compelled to testify. Shiff is not willing to risk a court decision against him.
Why? Because it erodes the ability to bring an article of impeachment for obstruction.
I think Schiffty is waiting for this to be resolved before he takes further actions regarding subpoenas.
It could be that Bolton via his attorney wants a court decision that would reconcile any questions about his legal responsibility to testify under or without subpoena. CYA. Under that scenario, the dems dropped their demand as they did not want (1) a precedent favoring executive privilege and/or (2) apprehensive about what he might testify to.
Exactly, which leads me to think I may have been suckered in by the media on Bolton.
I think Bolton is the one guy who has enough gravitas to sink this nonsense. Schiff is playing with fire with him. He has to know exactly what he’s going to say before he testifies. The GOP could always request Bolton as a witness. I wonder what Schifty would do then. Ha ha.
Wouldn’t that be a hoot...
Knowing what little I do of Bolton, he was FAR more concerned about a delay in arms to fight the Russians than he was about whether Trump was using it as leverage to get a Biden investigation.
That thought likely never entered his mind, though almost all publications ascribe it to him.
I suspect Bolton would not be friendly to the Shiffster and his cronies and they know it.........He may have been let go by Trump but he's not a grudge holding, back stabbing rat.
Of course you have. Unfortunately there's still many here who haven't wised up to that fact YET.......
I’m sure he never wanted Bolton to testify. He just wanted Bolton to refuse, so he could build a stupid case for “contempt of Congress” as an impeachment charge.
The Legislative branch has no oversight mandate for the voters of the Nation they are there to serve.
Subpoena away, Shiffy.
Schiff is converting the non-appearances into obstruction of justice. He neds more of that sauce for his impeachment casserole.
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