Late night hosts don't see how GOP senators can still refuse to call John Bolton as an impeachment witness
President Trump's lawyers made their case in Monday's Senate impeachment trial, Trevor Noah said on Monday's Daily Show. "And it basically boils down to this: One, this is just a political attack by the Democrats; two, Trump did nothing wrong; and three, there are no first-hand witnesses who spoke to Trump about a quid pro quo." He was impressed with the brazenness of complaining "about having no eyewitnesses when you're the ones blocking the eyewitnesses."
But "right in the middle of Team Trump making that argument about witnesses," Noah said, we learned that if willing first-hand witness John Bolton testifies, "he would say that Trump personally told him that he wanted to hold up aid to Ukraine until he got dirt on the Bidens — which is the whole thing! This is the heart of the entire impeachment thing. So I don't know how Senate Republicans can justify not hearing from Bolton now." Also bad for Trump, Lev Parnas just joined the "insane number of people who are secretly recording him," he added. "At this point, we have enough tapes to produce an album," and they did.
Seriously, "how is possible that so many people have secret recordings of the president?" Seth Meyers asked at Late Night. "Trump was so worried about Obama spying on him, he failed to notice that everyone else was. This is why it's so crucial that the Senate vote to allow new evidence to be considered in the impeachment trial, because almost every day new evidence emerges," including Bolton's bombshell.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
"There was an impeachment bombshell that just came out, and it could possibly bring down Trump's presidency," Jimmy Fallon said at The Tonight Show. "Or as it's known in the White House, Monday." He showed a photo of Bolton: "It would be the ultimate irony if Trump gets taken down by the KFC colonel."
"These allegations are the most disturbing thing to come from John Bolton's lips since his mustache," James Cordon joked at The Late Late Show. But Bolton's bombshell "just goes to show you that sometimes, political figures will have the moral courage to go against their party, as long as its perfectly timed with the release of a book." The new information "put a ton of pressure on Republican senators to call Bolton and other witnesses to testify," he added. "They're still not going to, but the pressure!" Watch below. Peter Weber
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.
-
Jussie Smollet conviction overturned on appeal
Speed Read The Illinois Supreme Court overturned the actor's conviction on charges of staging a racist and homophobic attack against himself in 2019
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Quincy Jones, music icon, is dead at 91
Speed Read The legendary producer is perhaps best known as the architect behind Michael Jackson's 'Thriller'
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
OJ Simpson, star athlete tried for murder, dead at 76
Speed Read The former football hero and murder suspect lost his battle with cancer
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Momofuku's 'Chili Crunch' trademark uproar
Speed Read The company's attempt to own the sole rights has prompted backlash
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Kevin Hart awarded Mark Twain Prize
Speed Read He is the 25th recipient of the prestigious comedy prize
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Is Downton Abbey set to return for a final film?
Speed Read Imelda Staunton reveals that a third movie may be in the pipeline
By Adrienne Wyper, The Week UK Published
-
'Oppenheimer' sweeps Oscars with 7 wins
speed read The film won best picture, best director (Christopher Nolan) and best actor (Cillian Murphy)
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
'Rust' armorer convicted of manslaughter
speed read The film's cinematographer Halyna Hutchins was shot and killed by actor Alec Baldwin during rehearsal
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published