The Ukraine scandal racketed up further with the testimony of Acting U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine Bill Taylor who testified that President Donald Trump held up military aid until the Ukrainians agreed to investigate election interference and Hunter Biden’s business dealings. While Taylor was the headliner this week, another figure appears to be emerging as the matinee star: John Bolton. When the Ukraine story broke, I stated that the likely key for Congress would be Bolton who had only recently been fired. Taylor reaffirmed earlier reports that Bolton spotted the serious danger of the Ukraine call and worked to prevent it as a “disaster” in the making.
Of course, in order to use Bolton, he will have to go through a Comey-like makeover from one of the most reviled figures to a heroic figure in the scandal for Democrats. With Comey, Democrats had to pivot from calling for his sacking to heralding him as a savior. Such are the fortunes of politics in Washington.
Bolton has been referenced by sources have being livid over the withholding of Ukraine aid as well as the highly inappropriate conduct of Rudy Giuliani in dealings with the country.
Taylor also added from damaging elements, including saying that there were instructions for people not to take notes in critical meetings. That can be seen as awareness of the impropriety of the nexus drawn between aid and the investigations. Taylor has suggested that a quid pro quo was acknowledged by other officials.
In his opening remarks to House members, Taylor said that there were two channels — official and unofficial — in Ukraine. The later involved Giuliani who has greatly magnified damage to the White House through his reckless conduct.
Republicans insist that Taylor was forced to acknowledge conflicts in his testimony. However, the Democrats have decided to keep this testimony behind closed doors. This allows members to just leak what they want the public to see. It is a poor way to dealing with an impeachment investigation which is a matter of great national concern.