Intel: How Democrats are using John Bolton’s Iraq War baggage to push back on Trump’s Iran policy

National security adviser John Bolton wasn’t on Capitol Hill today, but he still took center stage as Democrats grilled State Department Iran coordinator Brian Hook on the Donald Trump administration’s maximum pressure policy.

Rep. Ted Deutch, D-Fla., pressed Hook on the department’s refusal to state that it does not currently have congressional authorization to launch military action against Iran, drawing parallels to Bolton’s role in fomenting arguments for the Iraq War while serving in the George W. Bush administration.

Bolton “is a long-time proponent of regime change in Tehran,” said Deutch. “He continually questions the utility of negotiating with Iran and frequently indicates that the Iranian regime will not be in power in the coming years.”

Deutch pointed to what he called Bolton’s “misleading or false statements” about Iraq stockpiling weapons of mass destruction while he was undersecretary of state for arms control under Bush.