CNN’s Michael Smerconish: Fiona Hill might have given House Democrats everything they need on John Bolton’s views

Many proponents of impeaching President Donald Trump have been asserting that if House Democrats can get former National Security Adviser John Bolton to testify, it would be a major victory. But CNN’s Michael Smerconish, during a Friday morning appearance on “New Day,” told host Alisyn Camerota that after Fiona Hill’s testimony before the House Intelligence Committee on Thursday, an appearance from Bolton might not even be necessary.

Hill, a former National Security Council (NSC) senior director specializing in Russian and European affairs, testified on Thursday that Bolton was vehemently opposed to Trump attorney Rudy Giuliani’s push for an investigation of former Vice President Joe Biden and his son Hunter Biden in Ukraine — and that Bolton denounced such an investigation as a “drug deal” that he wanted no part of. According to the Philadelphia-based Smerconish (a non-Trumpian conservative/libertarian with a legal background), Hill’s testimony might have given Democrats everything they need where Bolton’s perspective is concerned.

“You’ve got the best of John Bolton on the record through Fiona Hill,” Smerconish told Camerota.

At this point, Smerconish speculated, it “might not be worth it” for House Democrats to keep pursuing  testimony from Bolton because it could “slow down the process” of impeachment.

Moreover, Smerconish added, testimony from Bolton might be bad for Democrats because of his views on an expansive executive branch of the U.S. federal government.

Asked by Camerota what risks for Republicans there are after Hill’s testimony, Smerconish responded, “The risk for Republicans is that a compelling case (for impeaching Trump) has been offered….. Theoretically, there could be some information forthcoming…. That’s the risk for Republicans.”