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Getty Images President Donald Trump and John Bolton, then-national security adviser, in August 2019.
President Donald Trump on Monday denied claims by John Bolton that Trump told the former national security adviser that he wanted to tie aid to Ukraine to an investigation of the Bidens, as Democrats ramped up their calls for witnesses in the president’s impeachment trial.
In a series of tweets past midnight, Trump said, “I NEVER told John Bolton that the aid to Ukraine was tied to investigations into Democrats, including the Bidens.” He added, “if John Bolton said this, it was only to sell a book.”
The New York Times reported late Sunday that Bolton claims in his upcoming memoir that Trump told him that nearly $400 million in aid to Ukraine should be frozen until Ukrainian officials agreed to investigate former Vice President Joe Biden and his son, Hunter.
Now see: Bolton’s book claims Trump said Ukraine aid was dependent on Biden probe: report.
Trump’s comments came ahead of the resumption of his impeachment trial on Monday afternoon, with arguments from his defense team. They began their defense on Saturday.
Read: ‘The president did absolutely nothing wrong’: Trump’s lawyers kick off impeachment defense.
Bolton’s account gave Democrats new inspiration to call him and other witnesses for testimony. Meanwhile, at least one Republican, Sen. Mitt Romney of Utah, said Monday it was “increasingly likely” more GOP senators would vote to call Bolton. At least four Republicans would need to join all Democratic senators to hear new testimony in the trial.
