Peter Navarro, a former trade adviser to Donald Trump, did not hold back in his criticism of John Bolton following the FBI’s recent raid on Bolton’s home. Navarro accused Bolton of “profiteering off America’s secrets” amid reports of an investigation into classified documents. In an op-ed for The Hill, Navarro reflected on his time working with Bolton, characterizing him as “far too frequently a loose cannon, bent on bombings and coups… Doctor Strangelove with a mustache.”
This strong language reflects Navarro’s growing frustration with Bolton, who served as Trump’s national security adviser until he left the position in 2019. Bolton’s memoir, “The Room Where it Happened,” published in 2020, drew significant attention, including a reported $2 million advance. However, Navarro raised serious ethical concerns regarding Bolton’s approach to sensitive national security information.
Navarro recounted how Bolton took notes during confidential discussions in the White House, claiming that Bolton’s reliance on these “copious notes” to write his memoir represented a breach of trust. “That isn’t service. That isn’t patriotism. That’s profiteering off of America’s secrets,” Navarro wrote, indicating that the publication of sensitive deliberations undermined U.S. security interests.
His accusations extended to specific examples of Bolton allegedly sharing classified U.S. strategies regarding Venezuela. “That kind of blueprint isn’t something you hand to the public… or to Maduro’s intelligence services,” Navarro asserted, emphasizing the dangers of such disclosures. He suggested that failing to protect sensitive national defense information could have serious legal repercussions for Bolton. “If evidence is found and indictments made, Bolton may one day go to prison for shredding that Constitution, defying executive privilege, and trampling safeguards meant to protect America’s security,” he warned.
Navarro himself has faced legal challenges, having served four months in prison last year for contempt of Congress after refusing to comply with subpoenas from the House committee investigating the January 6 Capitol riots. Now, with the FBI’s scrutiny of Bolton, the contrasting paths of these two former advisers highlight ongoing tensions within Trump’s inner circle.
The topic has sparked debate, especially considering Bolton’s previous refusals to speak before Congress during impeachment proceedings. Many Democrats, who once opposed Bolton vigorously, sought his testimony only to criticize him when he opted to release his memoir instead. In a noteworthy ruling, Judge Royce Lamberth stated in 2020 that Bolton “likely jeopardized national security by disclosing classified information.” The judge allowed Bolton’s book to be published after finding that the manuscript review process was poorly managed, noting that the sensitive content had already filtered out before the book hit the shelves.
In a politically charged environment, Navarro’s remarks about Bolton reflect larger questions about loyalty, ethics, and the handling of confidential information within the context of the Trump administration. As investigations into national security matters unfold, both men find themselves at the center of a story that continues to evolve, revealing complexities in their past relationship and the intricacies of serving in a high-stakes political arena.
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