Legal Troubles for John Bolton?

On Friday, legal analyst Greg Jarrett from Fox News suggested that John Bolton’s choice to publish his memoirs without complete government approval might lead him into significant legal issues. This came on the heels of a federal operation at Bolton’s Maryland residence, which was reportedly ordered by FBI Director Kash Patel as part of a national security investigation.

During his appearance on “The Evening Edit,” Jarrett highlighted that Bolton’s challenges extend beyond just the release of his book. He indicated that federal agents could view Bolton as having mishandled sensitive documents or shared classified information inappropriately. “Even if a sanitized version of the memoir is out, he still faces risks. If he kept classified documents at his home or office, that’s a crime,” Jarrett noted. He added that it seems authorities convinced a judge that a crime may have occurred, warranting a search of Bolton’s premises.

Jarrett criticized Bolton for acting irresponsibly by publishing his memoirs without ensuring final clearance from federal authorities. “It’s clear John Bolton is in legal jeopardy. As the National Security Adviser, he was deeply familiar with classified information. Writing that book posed significant national defense risks, especially since he didn’t wait for the final go-ahead,” Jarrett stated.

He pointed out that Bolton had received a stern warning years prior, when a federal judge expressed concern about Bolton’s rushed publication putting national security at risk. “At that time, a federal judge admonished him, saying he was gambling with the country’s security and could face criminal charges,” Jarrett explained.

In 2021, U.S. District Judge Lois C. Lambers had permitted the release of Bolton’s memoir, acknowledging that he “gambled with U.S. national security” by going ahead without final government clearance, which left him open to potential civil and criminal consequences.

Since his resignation as national security adviser in 2019, Bolton has been vocal in his criticism of former President Donald Trump, which reportedly led to the exposure of classified materials in his 2020 memoirs. Bolton, following the FBI raid, posted a message on X denouncing Trump’s handling of the Russia-Ukraine situation.