Rudy Giuliani says John Bolton is a 'swamp character' and 'atomic bomb' after book leaks

'That's classic backstabber'

Rudy Giuliani has lashed out at former national security adviser John Bolton, accusing him of being a “backstabber” and a “swamp character.”

Mr Bolton earned the ire of those loyal to Donald Trump when The New York Times reported that his upcoming book contains passages suggesting Mr Trump personally shared his plan to withhold military aid to Ukraine until they agreed to investigate his political opponents.

Giuliani has admitted to investigating allegations of corruption charges against the family of Joe Biden, but denies ever discussing the issue of Ukrainian military aid Mr Trump.

Discussing Mr Bolton during a CBS News interview, Mr Giuliani said the former national security adviser never shared any apprehension with him regarding the investigation into the Bidens.

“Never once. Never winked, never sent me a little note. That’s classic backstabber,” Mr Giuliani told CBS News. “I feel like I’ve got a swamp character here.”

Though Mr Giuliani has referred to Mr Bolton as a friend, the men have frequently been at odds.

During her testimony to the US House impeachment investigators, National Security Council senior director Fiona Hill – who reported to Mr Bolton – testified that the then-national security advisor was troubled by Mr Giuliani’s actions in Ukraine, referring to the president’s personal lawyer as a “hand grenade that would blow everyone up.” As a result, Mr Bolton asked Hill to keep notes on the Ukraine situation and share them with the National Security Council’s chief lawyer.

Mr Giuliani complained that Mr Bolton didn’t make the comments to him personally, and went on to say if he was a “hand grenade” then Mr Bolton was an “atomic bomb.”

“If he came up to me and said, ‘Rudy, you’re a grenade that’ll blow up,’ and he shows his face, I would say ‘I would never have the opportunity, ‘cause you’re an atomic bomb,’” Mr Giuliani said.

The former New York mayor is echoing the same message Mr Trump shared on Twitter on Monday.

Then, on Wednesday, Mr Trump used similar language to Mr Giuliani to refer to Mr Bolton as a destructive force.

Senate Democrats want to use Mr Bolton as a witness in the impeachment trial of Mr Trump, and the former national security adviser said he would testify if subpoenaed by the Senate.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell hoped to block the Democrats from calling witnesses, though it is unclear if Mr McConnell has enough votes to stop them. Senator Lindsey Graham, a consistent Trump loyalist, pleaded with Bolton to “hold a news conference and we’ll consider what you’ve got to say if you think it’s that important.”

Mr Giuliani isn’t even affording Mr Bolton’s testimony that much consideration.

“I find his testimony about the president pretty close to incredible,” Mr Giuliani said. “I can’t imagine that the president of the United States said that to him.”