Mitt Romney Interview Transcript on Calling John Bolton to Testify

Mitt Romney: (00:00) ... influence our final vote, but I can't begin to tell you how that would be resolved. As I indicated, I see myself as a senator/juror, and in that capacity I will maintain impartiality to the extent I can. Speaker 2: (00:11) Senator, have you spoken to any of your Republican colleagues? Do you get the sense that more of them will be on board with voting for witnesses? Four of you need to say yes. Do you think there are four votes? Mitt Romney: (00:23) I think it's increasingly likely that other Republicans will join those of us who think we should hear from John Bolton. Whether there are other witnesses and documents, why that's another matter, but I think John Bolton's relevance to our decision has become as become increasingly clear. Speaker 2: (00:39) Who of your colleagues have indicated that to you? Mitt Romney: (00:43) I'm not going to speak for any other Republican senators. Speaker 2: (00:45) But they have had conversations to that extent? Mitt Romney: (00:46) I have spoken with others who've opined upon this as well. Speaker 3: (00:50) Do you do think the manuscripts should be turned over to the Senate as well? Mitt Romney: (00:55) I'm just speaking now with regards to the first thing we've heard about, and that's John Bolton. Speaker 3: (01:01) The Bolton manuscript I'm talking about. The Bolton manuscript that he wrote, should that be turned over the Senate? Mitt Romney: (01:05) I haven't looked at that. I haven't heard about that, so I'm going to reserve judgment until the prosecution and defense are able to discuss that. Speaker 4: (01:11) Have you asked the White House who at the White House may have known about the manuscript [crosstalk 00:01:15]? Are you curious? Mitt Romney: (01:17) I have not spoken to anyone at the White House about the Bolton revelation from last night. Speaker 5: (01:22) Do you want to know who at the White House may have known beforehand? Mitt Romney: (01:24) I'm sure we're going to hear all about Mr. Bolton. If he's given the opportunity to testify, we'll hear people talk about where his information came from, did he have notes and so forth. That'll be discussed at great length. Speaker 6: (01:38) Can the trial, the Senate trial, be fair without John Bolton testifying? Mitt Romney: (01:42) I think it's important to be able to hear from John Bolton for us to be able to make an impartial judgment. Speaker 7: (01:49) What about the Republican the colleagues who say that they ... Speaker 8: (01:50) Thanks, guys. Thanks. Speaker 9: (01:51) Executive privilege issues? Speaker 10: (01:52) Have you talked to leadership about this? Speaker 11: (01:56) Sorry- Speaker 7: (02:04) Here he comes. Speaker 7: (02:06) Hello, Senator. Speaker 9: (02:06) Hi, Senator. How're you doing? Mitt Romney: (02:09) Good. Thank you. I've said for some time that I hope to be able to hear from John Bolton. I think with the story that came out yesterday, it's increasingly apparent that it would be important to hear from John Bolton. I, of course, will make a final decision on witnesses after we've heard from not only the prosecution but also the defense, but I think at this stage it's pretty fair to say that John Bolton has a relevant testimony to provide to those of us who are sitting in impartial justice. Speaker 12: (02:36) Do you have questions about whether and who saw the manuscript in the White House and whether or not some of the defense team might've already seen some of the stuff that's been in this book? Mitt Romney: (02:45) Well, I presume that if John Bolton is given the opportunity to testify that there'll be a lot of discussion about who knew what, where and so forth, but at this stage it would be conjecture to try and comment on that. Speaker 9: (02:59) Is it clear to you that the president did try to tie aid to asking for investigation of the Bidens? For you, is that enough to say that the president should be convicted for abuse of power? Mitt Romney: (03:08) I can't begin to tell you how John Bolton's testimony would ultimately play on a final decision, but it's relevant, and therefore I'd like to hear it. What impact that might have would be dependent upon all the facts associated with it. We'd hear from obviously prosecution and defense as to what was relevant and what was said and how that might influence our final vote, but I can't begin to tell you how that would be resolved. Mitt Romney: (03:32) As I've indicated, I see myself as a senator/juror and in that capacity I will maintain impartiality to the extent I can. Speaker 2: (03:39) Senator, have you spoken to any of your Republican colleagues? Do you get the sense that more of them will be on board with voting for witnesses? Four of you need to say yes. Do you think there are four votes? Mitt Romney: (03:52) I think it's increasingly likely that other Republicans will join those of us who think we should hear from John Bolton. Whether there are other witnesses and documents, why that's another matter, but I think John Bolton's relevance to our decision has become increasingly clear. Speaker 2: (04:07) Who of your colleagues have indicated that to you? Mitt Romney: (04:11) I'm not going to speak for any other Republican senators. Speaker 2: (04:13) But they have had conversations to that extent? Mitt Romney: (04:15) I have spoken with others who've opined upon this as well. Speaker 3: (04:18) Do you do think the manuscripts should be turned over to the Senate as well? Mitt Romney: (04:23) I'm just speaking now with regards to the first thing we've heard about, and that's John Bolton. Speaker 3: (04:29) The Bolton manuscript I'm talking about. The Bolton manuscript that he wrote, should that be turned over the Senate? Mitt Romney: (04:33) I haven't looked at that. I haven't heard about that, so I'm going to reserve judgment until the prosecution and defense are able to discuss that. Speaker 4: (04:39) Have you asked the White House who at the White House may have known about the manuscript? Are you curious? Mitt Romney: (04:45) I have not spoken to anyone. I have not spoken to anyone at the White House about the Bolton revelation from last night. Speaker 5: (04:49) Do you want to know who at the White House may have known beforehand? Mitt Romney: (04:52) I'm sure we're going to hear all about Mr. Bolton. If he's given the opportunity to testify, we'll hear people talk about where his information came from, did he have notes and so forth, so that'll be discussed at great length. Speaker 6: (05:07) Can the trial, the Senate trial, be fair without John Bolton testifying? Mitt Romney: (05:11) I think it's important to be able to hear from John Bolton, for us to be able to make an impartial judgment. Speaker 7: (05:16) What about the Republican colleagues who say that they ... Speaker 8: (05:19) Thanks, guys. Thanks. Speaker 9: (05:19) Executive privilege issues. Speaker 10: (05:20) Have you talked to leadership about this?