THREAD: I don't know why Bolton's book leaked, but ppl saying "he needs to sell books" don't seem to grasp that Bolton got his money up front. (That's why it's an "advance.") What he might want are speaking gigs and publicity, and this only helps him. The rest we can only guess a

Remember, he didn't know Trump would be impeached. He figured the book would be a revelation. But impeachment forced his hand: If he says nothing, it's old news later when the hubbub is over. Leaking now is the only path that makes sense for him (I think). /2

— Tom Nichols (@RadioFreeTom) January 27, 2020

...is that someone other than Bolton at NSC in the review process leaked it and timed the leak to really jam up the Republicans who were *this* close to being able to skate away from the witnesses question. They still can, but now it costs more to some of them, politically. /4

— Tom Nichols (@RadioFreeTom) January 27, 2020

Bottom line:
- This would not have happened absent the House impeaching
- Hard to argue against Bolton testifying now, because...
- ...House Intel would never have gotten this far on its own with attempt to subpoena
- There is no world in which this is good for the GOP
/5x

— Tom Nichols (@RadioFreeTom) January 27, 2020