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Welcome to The Logoff: President Donald Trump’s former nationwide safety adviser, John Bolton, was indicted right now on costs 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 e 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 publish on unhealthy phrases.
The Trump-Bolton relationship grew worse after a guide by Bolton featured prominently in Trump’s first impeachment trial. Bolton confronted a federal legal investigation for doubtlessly disclosing categorized data within the guide, which was subsequently closed below the Biden administration.
Is that this one other political prosecution? This case appears completely different from the indictments of former FBI Director James Comey and New York state Legal professional Basic Letitia James in current 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, nevertheless: Trump has lengthy wished to go after Bolton, and senior Justice Division officers reportedly pressured prosecutors to deliver this indictment shortly.
What’s the massive image? Mishandling categorized paperwork is extraordinarily widespread for former authorities officers; in 2023, Nationwide Archives officers stated each president since Reagan has achieved so — together with Trump, who was ultimately charged solely after repeated efforts by the federal government to reclaim categorized supplies. The precise particulars of Bolton’s case apart, the potential for selective prosecution for paperwork instances may sign additional weaponization of the Justice Division below Trump.
And with that, it’s time to log out…
My colleague Sigal Samuel writes an excellent recurring recommendation column, Your Mileage Might Range. 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 may learn it right here. Have an excellent night!
