Schiff had asked Bolton to submit a written affidavit. Bolton said no. Um, what? Schiff told us Bolton wanted to testify and had dirt on Trump. Turns out Schiff knew that was untrue.
It's another development revealing the bad faith and legal malfeasance of the House managers. It turns out Schiff had asked Bolton to submit a sworn affidavit so he could get Bolton's damaging testimony despite the vote to deny new witnesses. Bolton refused. Read that again. Bolton refused.
This was supposed to be the witness that was going to destroy Trump. Schiff kept saying Bolton (1) wanted to testify and (2) had information that would prove that Trump had a solitary personal political reason for talking with Zelensky.
Well, it turns out Schiff knew - DURING the Senate trial - that Bolton was not a willing witness who wanted to say under oath that Trump was solely motivated by personal political desires. If Bolton had wanted to harm Trump, he had a golden opportunity with an affidavit, and he wouldn't have been subjected to any cross-examination. It was a perfect chance to nail Trump. Bolton refused.
Schiff knowingly oversold Bolton's absence. He knew Bolton wasn't the pot of gold he portrayed him to be. He knew the absence of witnesses wasn't as consequential as he kept saying it was.
