MAGGIE HABERMAN and MIKE SCHMIDT’S monster scoop in the NYT on Sunday night time -- that JOHN BOLTON has written in a draft of his ebook that President DONALD TRUMP ordered assist to Ukraine held until it investigated the Bidens -- reminds the USA Senate and the American individuals of a actuality that was, until now, straightforward to overlook: BOLTON goes to tell his story, it’s only a query of what medium it seems in first -- a ebook, a television phase or a sworn testimony. His lawyer’s letter to the White House, noting officials there have had the book since Dec. 30
IN SOME WAYS, THERE’S NOTHING NEW here. The revelation confirms what almost two dozen associates and staff of TRUMP advised House investigators. The only individuals who say the opposite are the president and his associates.
BUT LET’S BE PERFECTLY CLEAR HERE: MAGGIE and MIKE’S story is as dangerous as might be for TRUMP. BOLTON is now contradicting the president’s declare that he did not tie the help to investigating JOE BIDEN, and he's a direct eyewitness. It comes at the absolute worst time for this White House: because the Senate is days away from deciding whether to name witnesses in the impeachment trial.
BOLTON IS DANGEROUS because he’s unmoored from TRUMP. He clearly doesn't care what the president’s orbit thinks of him. His 528-page book is titled, “The Room Where It Occurred,” with the words contained inside an oval (trace, hint). It's scheduled for launch March 17 and, conveniently enough, is now obtainable for pre-order on Amazon.
REPUBLICANS have executed a superb job throughout this process projecting confidence of their mastery of the state of affairs, and their means to ship for the president.
BUT AS OF LATE SUNDAY, our GOP sources stated they might not predict what was going to happen now with witnesses, and the Republican Convention lunch immediately might be key in determining the state of play. In different words, these top-level sources have been permitting that things might have changed. We've but to see if Republicans will brush off this new improvement, or whether it's going to push sufficient of them to vote for witnesses.
BOLTON IS NOT LEV PARNAS or one among these different characters who has sprouted up in the Trump period. He’s a through-and-through conservative who was thus far to the suitable that George W. Bush needed to await recess to make him his U.N. envoy. He’s recognized to members of the Senate. Not calling him to talk can be spurning considered one of their own in favor of TRUMP, whom lots of them see as an interloper.
HERE’S THE DILEMMA FOR REPUBLICANS NOW: In case you’re one of the Republicans who have been already uncomfortable with this president, how do you vote to not call Bolton after seeing this? Keep in mind: BOLTON is publishing a whole e-book, and so far we all know solely what he’s stated on Ukraine -- not all the things else he’s seen.
A REMINDER OF THE TIMELINE: TRUMP’S attorneys are in the middle of their defense of the president. SENATORS then could have a chance to query each side for a couple of days -- Democrats are positive to make use of this opportunity to pressure the president’s group to deal with BOLTON. And after that, at some level later this week, we anticipate a vote on whether or not to permit witnesses and new paperwork.
THE TWEETS … TRUMP responded at 12:18 a.m.: “I NEVER advised John Bolton that the aid to Ukraine was tied to investigations into Democrats, together with the Bidens. In reality, he by no means complained about this on the time of his very public termination. If John Bolton stated this, it was solely to sell a e-book. With that being stated, the… …transcripts of my calls with President Zelensky are all the proof that's needed, in addition to the fact that President Zelensky & the Overseas Minister of Ukraine stated there was no strain and no issues. Moreover, I met with President Zelensky at the United Nations… ...(Democrats stated I never met) and launched the army help to Ukraine with none circumstances or investigations - and much forward of schedule. I additionally allowed Ukraine to purchase Javelin anti-tank missiles. My Administration has completed excess of the previous Administration.”
THE HOUSE MANAGERS’ STATEMENT: “There may be little question now that Mr. Bolton instantly contradicts the guts of the President’s defense and subsequently have to be referred to as as a witness at the impeachment trial of President Trump.
“SENATORS SHOULD INSIST that Mr. Bolton be referred to as as a witness, and provide his notes and different related documents. The Senate trial must search the complete fact and Mr. Bolton has very important info to offer. There isn't a defensible purpose to wait until his guide is revealed, when the knowledge he has to offer is crucial to an important determination Senators must now make — whether to convict the President of impeachable offenses.”
MEANWHILE … NANCY COOK: “President Donald Trump is already itching to broadcast the collection finale of his impeachment. In current days, he and prime White Home aides have been contemplating how he ought to have fun his presumed acquittal by the Republican-controlled Senate and whether or not he should ship a uncommon Oval Workplace handle to mark the occasion, in accordance with three senior administration officers.” POLITICO
SECRETARY OF STATE MIKE POMPEO goes to Ukraine this week, Nahal Toosi reminds in this story, just days after reportedly saying, “Do you assume People care about Ukraine?”
TOP-ED … BILL TAYLOR within the NYT: “Yes, Secretary Pompeo, Americans Should Care About Ukraine”
NEW … MUCH INK WAS SPILLED -- in this publication, and elsewhere -- concerning the large fundraising by the CONGRESSIONAL LEADERSHIP FUND and AMERICAN ACTION NETWORK final cycle when the GOP was in the majority. But right here’s a bit of a shock: The combined teams -- the primary Home GOP outdoors orgs -- pulled in a combined $68 million in 2019, their largest haul ever in an off yr. That is so sudden because House Republicans are within the minority, and traditional knowledge holds that they don’t have a pathway out.
-- NOTABLY: CLF has $28 million available -- the most it has ever had going into an election yr and twice as a lot as ever earlier than. They raised $32.6 million last yr. The combined teams have raised $2 million more than their previous document.
-- CONSIDER THIS: CLF/AAN had tax reform to boost off final cycle. That they're elevating extra money now, during a presidential cycle, is notable, and illustrates that donors consider Republicans have an honest probability of placing up a struggle to win again the Home. With the DCCC and Dem candidates mopping the flooring with the NRCC and GOP candidates, CLF and AAN’s money can be essential for the get together.
Good Monday morning. CHIEF JUSTICE JOHN ROBERTS turns 65 at the moment.
L.A. TIMES’ BILL PLASCHKE ON KOBE: “Kobe Bryant is gone, and those are the toughest words I’ve ever had to write for this newspaper, and I still don’t consider them as I’m writing them. I’m nonetheless crying, and go forward, let it out. Don’t be embarrassed, cry with me, weep and wail and shout into the streets, fill a out of the blue empty Los Angeles together with your pain. …
“Kobe doesn't die. Not now. Kobe lives into his golden years, lives long sufficient to see his statues erected outdoors Staples Middle and his jerseys inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame. He lives lengthy sufficient to take a seat courtside at Staples when he’s stooped and grey, retaining alive the reminiscences of 20 years of greatness with a wink, perhaps even fooling everybody one last time by retiring in a group next to Shaq.”
JARED’S BIG MOMENT! … NETANYAHU TO THE W.H. … NYT’S MARK LANDLER: “Trump’s Mideast Plan Is Seen Primarily as an Election Raise for Netanyahu”: “The Israeli leader will return to the White House for meetings Monday and Tuesday, and Mr. Trump is predicted eventually to put out the small print of that long-awaited plan. Mr. Netanyahu stated Sunday he hoped to ‘make history’ on the go to. …
“‘For him to do this in the midst of an Israeli election, without any Palestinian participation and with no intention to comply with up with any of the individuals, exhibits this is not a peace plan at all,’ stated Martin S. Indyk, who served as particular envoy for Israeli-Palestinian negotiations beneath President Barack Obama. ‘It's a farce from begin to finish.’” NYT
SEVEN DAYS TO IOWA … BOSTON GLOBE: “‘Our phone rings from 7 in the morning until 10 at night.’ Life in Iowa’s political bombardment zone,” by Dugan Arnett in Waverly, Iowa
WAPO: “Bernie Sanders faces barrage of attacks from rivals as polls point to surge in early-voting states,” by Chelsea Janes and Sean Sullivan in West Des Moines: “Sen. Bernie Sanders faced a sudden barrage of attacks from his rivals Sunday amid signs that he was surging within the crucial early-voting states of Iowa and New Hampshire and closing the gap nationally with the race’s longtime polling chief, Joe Biden.
“Sanders’s rise, with only days left earlier than the Feb. three caucuses right here, prompted urgent warnings from competing campaigns that the get together is in jeopardy of nominating a self-identified democratic socialist whose far-left views would turn off the broad swath of voters required to defeat President Trump within the November common election.
“‘Bernie Sanders could possibly be the nominee,’ the campaign of Pete Buttigieg declared in an ominous-sounding fundraising message to supporters Saturday. A pointed textual content message followed on Sunday: ‘We danger nominating a candidate who can't beat Donald Trump in November. And that’s a danger we will’t take.’”
-- FOR THE RECORD: Here’s a personal aircraft that landed at DCA from Sioux Metropolis, Iowa, at 1 a.m.
ELENA SCHNEIDER in Des Moines: “Buttigieg takes his case to Fox News before Iowa”: “Pete Buttigieg shot into 2020 rivalry with a viral town hall last March. On Sunday, he turned again to that setting for one remaining pre-Iowa caucuses increase — this time on Fox News, in search of an viewers of disaffected moderates and ‘future former Republicans’ to pitch on electability.
“Buttigieg, who's vying with Joe Biden, Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren for a win within the caucuses, isn’t expecting to attract in many Iowa Republicans together with his appearance on Fox Information Sunday night time. But the platform jibed with Buttigieg’s closing message in the state: that the 38-year-old ex-mayor is greatest positioned to convey the celebration together to defeat President Donald Trump in November.
“‘This community is understood for having a lot more conservative viewers, but I don’t assume you must be a Democrat to see what's flawed with this president,’ Buttigieg stated, when asked about how he would attraction to Republican voters in the overall election. ‘In the event you’re having hassle wanting your youngsters in the eye and explaining this presidency to them, you will have a selection.’”
BLOOMBERG IN FLORIDA -- “Mike Bloomberg pitches himself to Jewish Americans, in a presidential race with two very different Jewish candidates,” by WaPo’s Julie Zauzmer
THE PRESIDENT’S MONDAY -- At 11 a.m., TRUMP is scheduled to welcome Israeli PM BENJAMIN NETANYAHU to the White Home. They'll meet at 11:10 a.m. At 12:30 p.m., TRUMP will meet individually with Netanyahu’s chief political rival, Benny Gantz. At 1:15 p.m, TRUMP could have lunch with the VP. At 3:30 p.m., THE PRESIDENT will take part within the swearing-in of Jovita Carranza as administrator of the SBA.
CORONAVIRUS UPDATE … AP/BEIJING: “China on Monday expanded sweeping efforts to include a viral disease by extending the Lunar New Yr holiday to keep the public at house and keep away from spreading infection as the demise toll rose to 80.
“Hong Kong introduced it might bar entry to guests from the province at the middle of the outbreak following a warning the virus’s potential to unfold was growing. Travel businesses have been ordered to cancel group tours nationwide, adding to the rising economic value.
“More and more drastic anti-disease efforts began with the Jan. 22 suspension of aircraft, practice and bus links to Wuhan, a metropolis of 11 million individuals in central China the place the virus was first detected final month. That lockdown has expanded to a total of 17 cities with greater than 50 million individuals in probably the most far-reaching disease-control measures ever imposed.” AP
-- ARIZONA REPUBLIC: “First case of novel coronavirus reaches Arizona, 5th person in U.S. infected”
BEZOS VS. MBS -- “Saudi Prince Courted Amazon’s Bezos Earlier than Bitter Cut up,” by WSJ’s Justin Scheck in New York, Bradley Hope in London and Summer time Stated in Dubai: “By means of a lot of 2018, Amazon.com founder Jeff Bezos and tech-savvy Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman appeared to be hitting it off.
“Texting over WhatsApp a few plan for Amazon to build a large knowledge middle in Saudi Arabia, the lads cast a cordial and mutually useful relationship. ‘It is rather necessary for me, my pal, that you simply come to Saudi through the future investment Forum and we announce this $2.8B Imaginative and prescient 2030 partnership,’ the prince messaged Mr. Bezos on Sept. 9, 2018, in line with a evaluation of texts by The Wall Road Journal and other people accustomed to the state of affairs.
“Amazon stood to realize broader access to the Middle Japanese market. Prince Mohammed might be aided in his efforts to reform the Saudi financial system as well as burnish his private model. Now, one of the world’s richest males and probably the most powerful princes are archenemies, each accusing the other of betrayal.” WSJ
WATCH THIS SPACE … AP/BAGHDAD: “Nighttime rocket assault on U.S. Embassy in Baghdad injured 1”: “A nighttime rocket attack on the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad injured at the least one embassy personnel member, staffers there stated Monday. The two employees members, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they weren't approved to temporary the media, did not specify the injured individual’s nationality or the severity of their wounds. They stated the rocket slammed into a restaurant inside the embassy compound.” AP
MEANWHILE, IN TEHRAN -- “Iran’s Rouhani calls for unity, accuses Trump of exploiting rift,” by Reuters’ Parisa Hafezi in Dubai
MEDIAWATCH … HAPPENING THIS MORNING … POLITICO founder and writer Robert Allbritton will announce the launch of “AgencyIQ,” a big new POLITICO business line and product targeted on monitoring and deciphering federal regulatory businesses by way of research, know-how and news.
NEW … THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA is launching a 50-state Election Cybersecurity Initiative, supported by Google. The objective is to teach campaigns, election staff, elected officials and the public about how you can safe U.S. elections. Their occasions will concentrate on how you can forestall cyberattacks, determine disinformation and misinformation, and reply to crises once they come up. The initiative is being run by government director Adam Clayton Powell III, and Charlie Baker alum Justin P. Griffin serves as managing director. More details
Ship tricks to Eli Okun and Garrett Ross at politicoplaybook@politico.com.
SPOTTED: Sen. Michael Bennet (D-Colo.) on Sunday at the Works Cafe in downtown Concord, N.H., and afterward an American Airways flight from Manchester to DCA. … Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.) grocery purchasing on the H Road NE Big on Sunday afternoon.
TRANSITIONS -- Eve Tahmincioglu is now communications director on the Economic Policy Institute. She beforehand was government editor and digital director for Directors & Boards, Personal Company Director and Household Business, and is an NBC alum. … Brennan Murray is now a public coverage senior affiliate at VIPKid. He previously was a senior associate at McLarty Associates China.
BIRTHDAY OF THE DAY: Heather Nauert, senior fellow on the Hudson Institute and former State Department spokesperson and appearing undersecretary for public affairs. A development she thinks doesn’t get enough attention: “School students buying pretend IDs from China that look exactly like real IDs, but what’s surprising is that some copies are so good that they will even idiot police scanner know-how! (Simply ask your teenager!)” Playbook Q&A
BIRTHDAYS: WaPo’s Holly Bailey … Meredith Kelly, companion at Sena Kozar Strategies … Howard Mortman, C-SPAN’s comms director, is 53 … Ben Kramer … Raul Juste Lores … Jess Wooden … Chelsea Patterson Sobolik … Jessica Fink, VP at Groundswell Communications … Kitty Bartels Di Martino … Circle’s Jared Favole is 37 … Keith Olbermann is 61 … Erin Lindsay of Precision Strategies … Emily Skor, CEO of Progress Power (h/t Leigh Claffey) … CFR’s Kayla Ermanni … Jamal Ware … Nomiki Konst … CAP’s Matt Lee-Ashley … Connie Partoyan, president of Targeted Victory (h/t Blake Waggoner) … Matthew Simon, COS for Rep. Debbie Lesko (R-Ariz.) … Ben Owens, legislative assistant for Rep. Ann Kirkpatrick (D-Ariz.), is 25 (h/ts Henry Marcel and pop Steve) … Heath Clayton …
… Jay Hein, president of Sagamore Institute … Akin Gump’s Josh Teitelbaum (h/t wife Emily) … John Miyasato … Carter Wood … former Rep. Marilyn Musgrave (R-Colo.) is 71 … former Rep. Zack Area (D-Ohio) is 59 … former Rep. Dick Ottinger (D-N.Y.) is 91 … former Rep. John Mica (R-Fla.) is 77 … Jake Goldman … Morry Cater … Jessica DiRocco … Nick Swezey … Jennifer Bogdan, Rhode Island Gov. Gina Raimondo’s communications director, is 34 … Julia Kimani Burnham … Brian Harvey Hogue … Seth Inexperienced is Four-0 … Swetha Ramakrishnan … Peter Lengthy … Kurt Hauptman … Scott Backer … Judy Shapleigh … Christina Ciammaichelli … Nathaniel DiRenzo … Rick Ridder (h/t Teresa Vilmain) … Kendall Bianchi … Roxane Philson, ONE Campaign’s chief advertising officer … Saul Carlin … Will Rusche, COS at Vigilant
Src: POLITICO Playbook: What Bolton means for impeachment
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