Bolton called to testify in Trump inquiry as House prepares to vote

John Bolton, the former U.S. national security adviser who likened Donald Trump's dealings with Ukraine to a "drug deal," has been asked to testify in the impeachment probe examining potential abuse of power by the president.

The House of Representatives is expected to vote on the impeachment process on Thursday, meanwhile.

The vote on a resolution allowing for public impeachment hearings and the release of deposition transcripts will be the first the 435-member House has taken on the inquiry.

Will Bolton turn up?

Bolton, who resigned as national security adviser in September, has been called on to testify behind closed doors on November 7 though it's unclear whether he will attend.

He was reported to have expressed alarm over secret administration efforts, including by Trump's personal attorney Rudy Giuliani, to pressure Ukraine to investigate Democrats including potential Trump presidential rival Joe Biden.

Bolton's lawyer and Democratic aides did not respond to requests from AFP for comment on the testimony notice or say whether Bolton had agreed to appear before investigators.

U.S President Donald Trump talks with John Bolton, then national security adviser, in the Cabinet Room of the White House, Washington, DC, April 9, 2018. /VCG Photo

National Security Council (NSC) lawyer John Eisenberg and Eisenberg's deputy, Michael Ellis, have reportedly been asked to appear on Monday.

Tim Morrison, the top Russia official on Trump's NSC who is due to testify on Thursday, resigned from his position on Wednesday according to multiple reports.

Lobbyist 'urged envoy be fired'

Further evidence of private interests seeking the ouster of former U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine Marie Yovanovitch emerged on Wednesday, meanwhile, in testimony to a the impeachment inquiry.

Catherine Croft, a Ukraine specialist at the State Department, said Robert Livingston, a former Republican congressman-turned-lobbyist, repeatedly urged that Yovanovitch be fired.

It was unclear why, she said in her opening statement to lawmakers, posted online by the Washington Post.

Trump removed Yovanovitch in May at the urging of Giuliani, who had asked Ukraine to investigate Joe Biden, a leading contender for the Democratic nomination to face Trump in the 2020 U.S. election.

(With input from Reuters, AFP)