Fight over Bolton gives Romney a chance for Senate clout

Fight over Bolton gives Romney a chance for Senate clout

WASHINGTON (AP) — Impeachment is giving Sen. Mitt Romney a big moment, again. He’s defying Republican leaders at President Donald Trump’s impeachment trial by insisting on witnesses, specifically former national security adviser John Bolton. The Utah senator was the 2012 GOP presidential nominee and is now a back-row Senate freshman. He may yet get his way on witnesses. On Tuesday night, Majority Leader Mitch McConnell told Republicans that he doesn’t have the votes to block the drive for new testimony. Some Republicans want Romney to become an independent GOP voice in the Senate. But Georgia Sen. Kelly Loeffler says Romney “wants to appease the left by calling witnesses who will slander” Trump.