The Justice Department is preparing to bring charges against former National Security Advisor John Bolton, possibly as soon as this week. Reports indicate that Bolton is under investigation for transmitting classified emails via a private server, which were intercepted by spies from a foreign adversary. According to a recent leak to The New York Times, Bolton’s actions may constitute a violation of the Espionage Act.
CNN reported that senior leaders within the Justice Department are advocating for this charge. Law enforcement officials believe they might build a stronger case against Bolton by the end of the year regarding the mishandling of national security documents. This timing coincides with a broader narrative as former President Donald Trump has called for the prosecution of his political adversaries, including another potential target, former FBI Director Jim Comey.
The investigation into Bolton’s actions gained traction following an FBI raid on his home last month. This raid was prompted by allegations that Bolton had sent classified materials to family members using a personal, unsecured email server during his term at the White House. Recent documents indicate that Bolton sent “highly sensitive” information from a location within the White House to his wife and daughter before he was dismissed by Trump in September 2019.
The roots of this investigation trace back to 2020 when Bolton used classified information to write his book, “The Room Where It Happened.” This inquiry was previously halted by the Biden Administration, but it resurfaced under FBI Director Kash Patel, who directed the recent raid on Bolton’s residence.
The New York Times revealed that Bolton’s classified emails were discovered while U.S. intelligence was gathering information from a hostile country’s spy service. Recent disclosures spotlighted that Bolton stored sensitive materials related to weapons of mass destruction and the United Nations. Categories of classified records recovered included travel memos with secret labels and confidential documents from the U.S. mission to the U.N., among others.
On Wednesday, Bolton’s attorney, Abbe Lowell, defended his client, stating that many of the seized documents were older and had been declassified. “These materials, many of which are documents that had been previously approved as part of a pre-publication review for Amb. Bolton’s book, were reviewed and closed years ago,” Lowell said. He emphasized that Bolton’s extensive experience as a former Assistant Attorney General and U.N. Ambassador was relevant in considering the nature of the documents. “These are the kinds of ordinary records… that would be kept by a 40-year career official,” he added. Lowell insisted that an “objective and thorough review will show nothing inappropriate was stored or kept by Amb. Bolton.”
This case exemplifies the ongoing political turbulence surrounding high-profile figures in recent administrations. The gravity of the allegations against Bolton highlights the complexity of handling classified information and the repercussions of its mishandling, especially when national security is at stake. As developments unfold, attention will remain focused on both the legal implications for Bolton and the broader context of political accountability in Washington.
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