Bolton had refused to appear on Capitol Hill during the Democrats' impeachment proceedings late last year, but in a new book released in June he presented damning allegations of Trump's negligence, incompetence and general unfitness to hold the office.
Speaker has said for weeks that she's weighing the question of whether to seek Bolton's testimony - by subpoena or otherwise - but has yet to announce a decision.
Filling the silent void are the voices of a growing number of Democrats eager for the opportunity to confront Bolton - directly and under threat of perjury - about the eyewitness details of his tumultuous 17 months in the Trump White House.
Interest in hearing Bolton discuss his White House tenure is hardly new.
More recently, the calls for Bolton's appearance have been muted on both sides by the arrival of the deadly coronavirus; the resulting economic collapse; and the racial unrest prompted by the killing of George Floyd at the hands of police in May. Still, the issue presents something of a dilemma for Pelosi and other party leaders, who are fighting to invigorate Democratic voters heading into November's elections - and face pressure from liberals on and off Capitol Hill to hold Trump accountable at every turn.
Pelosi has vowed to do just that - "We will never stop our oversight that is our responsibility under the Constitution," she told reporters Thursday - but on the question of Bolton she's remained mum.
Liberals hoping to question Bolton are dismissing the political risk for Democrats, predicting voters will be more likely to punish Republicans for defending Trump from the new accusations - without hearing from the accuser.
Speaker has said for weeks that she's weighing the question of whether to seek Bolton's testimony - by subpoena or otherwise - but has yet to announce a decision.
Filling the silent void are the voices of a growing number of Democrats eager for the opportunity to confront Bolton - directly and under threat of perjury - about the eyewitness details of his tumultuous 17 months in the Trump White House.
Interest in hearing Bolton discuss his White House tenure is hardly new.
More recently, the calls for Bolton's appearance have been muted on both sides by the arrival of the deadly coronavirus; the resulting economic collapse; and the racial unrest prompted by the killing of George Floyd at the hands of police in May. Still, the issue presents something of a dilemma for Pelosi and other party leaders, who are fighting to invigorate Democratic voters heading into November's elections - and face pressure from liberals on and off Capitol Hill to hold Trump accountable at every turn.
Pelosi has vowed to do just that - "We will never stop our oversight that is our responsibility under the Constitution," she told reporters Thursday - but on the question of Bolton she's remained mum.
Liberals hoping to question Bolton are dismissing the political risk for Democrats, predicting voters will be more likely to punish Republicans for defending Trump from the new accusations - without hearing from the accuser.
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