Yes, the House can still subpoena John Bolton and reopen impeachment hearings
John Bolton suddenly announced today that he’s willing to testify at Donald Trump’s Senate impeachment trial if he’s subpoenaed to do so. Bolton’s motivation very probably has a lot to do with the timing of the release of his upcoming anti-Trump tell all book; he couldn’t have done much to hype the book by testifying to the House back in November, but testifying to the Senate in February or March would be much more profitable for him. Whatever his motivation, he’s now willing to testify, and the Democrats have to put him to use.
Too many observers have gotten hung up on the part where Bolton specifically said he’s willing to testify about impeachment to the Senate. It’s led to theories across social media about Bolton saying this because he knows Mitch McConnell will never subpoena him, or because the Republican Senate will… be nicer to him? These theories all fall apart when you remember that nothing works this way. McConnell can’t just refuse to call Bolton and magically face no fallout for it. Nor would Bolton avoid tough questions by testifying to the Senate instead of the House; the Democrats would be allotted significant time to question him either way.
In reality, way too much is being read into John Bolton’s mention of the Senate. He’s not trying to be coy here; he’s simply addressing the question in front of him. That question, coming from the media and the public, is whether he’ll testify at the upcoming Senate impeachment trial. Why would Bolton announce that he’s willing to testify as part of the House impeachment hearings? Those don’t exist anymore.
So no, there’s no reason to believe that John Bolton is trying to avoid testifying to the House; it’s just not on the table. But the House can put it on the table. Nancy Pelosi can announce a new impeachment inquiry any time she wants, and call Bolton to testify, and then hit Trump with additional articles of impeachment. She can do this before or after she sends the existing two articles to the Senate. She can do it before or after the Senate holds a trial on the two existing articles.
In other words, John Bolton just threw the door wide open to testify to the House. He’s a politically savvy guy, so he surely knows what he just did. Right now McConnell is waiting to see if his own Republican members force him to subpoena Bolton. Keep in mind that Senate Republicans are each going to do whatever they selfishly think gives them the best odds of hanging onto their own Senate seat, come reelection time. If McConnell doesn’t call Bolton, then Pelosi certainly can. As we keep pointing out, she holds all the cards here.
