Former National Security Adviser John Bolton is set to release a new book and the preview suggests a bombshell that President Trump wanted a freeze on Ukraine aid until Joe Biden and other political opponents were investigated.
One problem with this claim is that the aid was released and no investigations were ever announced.
The Daily Caller explains Bolton’s claims:
Former National Security Adviser John Bolton said in an unpublished manuscript of a forthcoming book that President Donald Trump wanted to maintain a freeze on military aid to Ukraine until officials there produced information related to Joe Biden and other political opponents, The New York Times reported.
Bolton said in the manuscript that he asked Trump about the stalled $391 million aid package during a conversation in August 2018, according to The NYT.
Bolton, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, Secretary of Defense Mark Esper and numerous lawmakers had by then pressed the White House to unfreeze the aid, saying that Ukraine needed the money to help it stave off Russia.
Bolton, who resigned Sept. 10, 2019, reportedly wrote in the book draft that Trump was instead focused on theories regarding Biden and potential Ukrainian involvement in meddling in the 2016 election.
GOP Representative Matt Gaetz has a theory as to why Bolton is making these claims.
According to Town Hall:
Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) said the report has more to do with Bolton trying to increase his book advance.
“All Americans know that no human being is ever in a more hyperbolic state than when they are pitching a book deal,” Gaetz told Fox News’ Steve Hilton. “John Bolton right now isn’t negotiating testimony, he’s negotiating the size of his advance. People make the boldest claims in the starkest terms to try to juice that advanced number. I don’t make much of this. I do think there is a correlated Democratic strategy to try to have these time-released fuses go off at various intervals. I think they’re trying to keep the show lively because they know the underlying facts do not support impeachment and would require this president to be exonerated.”
Trump’s lawyer Rudy Giuliani responded to the report, telling ABC News he was “wrong” about Bolton.
“I used to like and respect John, and tell people they were wrong about how irresponsible he was. I was wrong,” the told John Santucci, ABC’s senior editorial producer.
This wins Twitter tonight https://t.co/mSeRuRQN8S
— Jordan Schachtel (@JordanSchachtel) January 27, 2020
President Trump also responded to the claims by Bolton:
…(Democrats said I never met) and released the military aid to Ukraine without any conditions or investigations – and far ahead of schedule. I also allowed Ukraine to purchase Javelin anti-tank missiles. My Administration has done far more than the previous Administration.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 27, 2020
I NEVER told John Bolton that the aid to Ukraine was tied to investigations into Democrats, including the Bidens. In fact, he never complained about this at the time of his very public termination. If John Bolton said this, it was only to sell a book. With that being said, the…
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 27, 2020
