Bolton reportedly announced his support of officials who testified during impeachment inquiry


During a private event Thursday in Austin, Texas, former National Security Adviser John Bolton praised five government officials who testified in the House impeachment inquiry, KXAN reports.
During a question-and-answer session, Bolton said Fiona Hill, Tim Morrison, Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman, Bill Taylor, and former U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine Marie Yovanovitch all "acted in the best interest of the country as they saw it and consistent to what they thought our policies are." He also said members of the Trump administration should "feel they're able to speak their minds without retribution. The idea that somehow testifying to what you think is true is destructive to the system of government we have — I think, is very nearly the reverse — the exact reverse of the truth."
In her testimony, Hill, President Trump's former top Russia adviser, debunked a conspiracy theory that it was Ukraine, not Russia, that meddled in the 2016 presidential election. Morrison, a former senior White House national security official, testified that U.S. Ambassador to the E.U. Gordon Sondland told him he let Ukraine know Trump would unfreeze military aid once leaders announced investigations into Democrats.
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.
Taylor, the former acting U.S. ambassador to Ukraine, also testified that he was told aid to Ukraine was dependent on investigations into former Vice President Joe Biden. Vindman, the director of European Affairs for the White House National Security Council, was on Trump's July 25 phone call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, and reported to his superiors that Trump requested Zelensky open an investigation into Biden. Yovanovitch testified that she was the victim of a successful smear campaign orchestrated by Trump's personal attorney, Rudy Giuliani.
On Sunday, The New York Times reported that in his upcoming book, Bolton contradicts Trump's claims that there was no quid pro quo with Ukraine. Democrats want Bolton to testify during Trump's impeachment trial, and the Senate is expected to vote on calling more witnesses Friday.
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
Catherine Garcia has worked as a senior writer at The Week since 2014. Her writing and reporting have appeared in Entertainment Weekly, The New York Times, Wirecutter, NBC News and "The Book of Jezebel," among others. She's a graduate of the University of Redlands and the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism.
-
'"Andor" examines all sides of how empires operate'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Justin Klawans, The Week US
-
DHS chief Kristi Noem's purse stolen from eatery
Speed Read Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem's purse was stolen while she dined with family at a restaurant in Washington, D.C.
By Peter Weber, The Week US
-
Harvard sues Trump over frozen grant money
Speed Read The Trump administration withheld $2.2 billion in federal grants and contracts after Harvard rejected its demands
By Peter Weber, The Week US
-
DHS chief Kristi Noem's purse stolen from eatery
Speed Read Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem's purse was stolen while she dined with family at a restaurant in Washington, D.C.
By Peter Weber, The Week US
-
Trump stands by Hegseth amid ouster reports
Speed Read The president dismissed reports that he was on the verge of firing Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth over a second national security breach
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US
-
Hegseth reportedly shared war plans in 2nd group text
Speed Read The defense secretary sent information about an attack in Yemen to a Signal group chat that included his wife and brother
By Peter Weber, The Week US
-
Judge threatens Trump team with criminal contempt
Speed Read James Boasberg attempts to hold the White House accountable for disregarding court orders over El Salvador deportation flights
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US
-
Biden slams Trump's Social Security cuts
Speed Read In his first major public address since leaving office, Biden criticized the Trump administration's 'damage' and 'destruction'
By Peter Weber, The Week US
-
El Salvador refuses to return US deportee
Speed Read President Nayib Bukele of El Salvador said he would not send back the unlawfully deported Kilmar Ábrego García
By Peter Weber, The Week US
-
Trump says electronics tariff break won't last
Speed Read The tariff exemptions on smartphones, laptops and other electronic devices are temporary, the administration says
By Peter Weber, The Week US
-
Man charged in arson attack on Pennsylvania's Shapiro
Speed Read Governor Josh Shapiro and his family were sleeping when someone set fire to his Harrisburg mansion
By Peter Weber, The Week US