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Welcome to The Logoff: President Donald Trump’s former nationwide safety adviser, John Bolton, was indicted at present on prices of mishandling categorized paperwork.
What did Bolton allegedly do? Bolton was indicted on 18 separate counts of retention and transmission of categorized materials, which heart on “diary-like” notes Bolton shared by electronic mail with two people, reportedly his spouse and daughter. In August, FBI brokers raided his home and reportedly seized paperwork with classification markings.
What’s the context? Bolton has a profession in Republican politics stretching again to the Reagan administration and served as President George W. Bush’s ambassador to the United Nations. He was Trump’s nationwide safety adviser in 2018 and 2019, however departed the submit on dangerous phrases.
The Trump-Bolton relationship grew worse after a e-book by Bolton featured prominently in Trump’s first impeachment trial. Bolton confronted a federal felony investigation for probably disclosing categorized info within the e-book, which was subsequently closed underneath the Biden administration.
Is that this one other political prosecution? This case appears to be like completely different from the indictments of former FBI Director James Comey and New York state Lawyer Common Letitia James in latest weeks.
Whereas the Comey and James prosecutions are transparently political, the investigation into Bolton predates the second Trump administration and seems to have extra substance. A profession prosecutor — reasonably than a handpicked Trump loyalist — offered the costs to a grand jury.
There’s nonetheless cause to see political intent, nonetheless: Trump has lengthy wished to go after Bolton, and senior Justice Division officers reportedly pressured prosecutors to deliver this indictment rapidly.
What’s the large image? Mishandling categorized paperwork is extraordinarily frequent for former authorities officers; in 2023, Nationwide Archives officers mentioned each president since Reagan has executed so — together with Trump, who was ultimately charged solely after repeated efforts by the federal government to reclaim categorized supplies. The particular particulars of Bolton’s case apart, the opportunity of selective prosecution for paperwork instances may sign additional weaponization of the Justice Division underneath Trump.
And with that, it’s time to sign off…
My colleague Sigal Samuel writes an awesome recurring recommendation column, Your Mileage Could Fluctuate. I actually loved her newest version, a considerate response to a query about separating artwork from the artist and the way — or whether or not — to get pleasure from works from problematic artists. You’ll be able to learn it right here. Have an awesome night!
