Mitt Romney says it's 'increasingly likely' more GOP senators will vote for witnesses after Bolton revelations

Mitt Romney.
(Image credit: Drew Angerer/Getty Images)

The chances of former National Security Adviser John Bolton testifying in the Senate impeachment trial are seemingly increasing.

Sen. Mitt Romney (R-Utah) said Monday that, having spoken to other Republican lawmakers, it's "increasingly likely" more of them will vote to call Bolton to the witness stand now that revelations from his forthcoming book about Trump's alleged Ukraine quid pro quo were leaked to the public. Romney and Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) have maintained they'd like to hear from Bolton throughout the process. Collins reiterated that sentiment Monday, saying the Bolton leaks strengthen her stance on the matter and that she's working with Romney and Sens. Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) and Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) to bring in witnesses.

Those four have long been considered the best bets to go against the grain in the trial, but it now looks like other party members are willing to discuss the matter.

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Don't expect everyone to jump ship, though. Axios reports that party leadership and the White House will continue to resist witnesses to prevent the "floodgates" from opening. One top aide told Axios that if Bolton's testimony were to implicate Trump, calls for acting White House Chief of Staff Mick Mulvaney and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo "will intensify." Read more at Axios.

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Tim O'Donnell

Tim is a staff writer at The Week and has contributed to Bedford and Bowery and The New York Transatlantic. He is a graduate of Occidental College and NYU's journalism school. Tim enjoys writing about baseball, Europe, and extinct megafauna. He lives in New York City.