2 ‘weak link’ Repubs ready to call for witnesses

Two of the ‘weak link’ Republican senators said Monday that the revelations from a forthcoming book by former national security adviser John Bolton suggest the need for witnesses.

Sen. Mitt Romney, R-Utah, said it’s “increasingly likely” there will be enough Republican senators to vote in favor of calling witnesses in the president’s ongoing trial.

“I think, with the story that came out yesterday, it’s increasingly apparent that it would be important to hear from John Bolton,” Romney told reporters in brief comments. He said he hasn’t fully made up his mind on calling witnesses, but what Bolton has to say is “relevant” and “therefore I’d like to hear it.”

“From the beginning, I’ve said that in fairness to both parties the decision on whether or not to call witnesses should be made after both the House managers and the President’s attorneys had had the opportunity to present their cases.

“I’ve always said that I was likely to vote to call witnesses, just as I did in the 1999 Clinton trial. The reports about John Bolton’s book strengthen the case for witnesses and have prompted a number of conversations among my colleagues.”

Watch Romney make his statement (he was going to vote for witnesses in any case, no doubt):

Susan Collins said much the same in her statement. The case is now “strengthened,” she said.

NBC News is thrilled:

Bolton is a serious disappointment. The case was finally going to end. He knows what is at stake. The Democrats are socialists and communists. What happened to country first?

PowerInbox