Turley, Gowdy warn John Bolton case is ‘very serious’
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Former Trump National Security Adviser John Bolton, facing 18 federal charges related to alleged mishandling of classified materials, surrendered to authorities on Friday.
Jonathan Turley, a George Washington University law professor and Fox News contributor, said the evidence against Bolton appeared “extremely damning.”
“This information is classified at the highest level because this is information that could lead to the death of people,” Turley told “Fox & Friends.”
Former National Security Advisor John Bolton arrives at the U.S. District Courthouse in Greenbelt, Maryland, on October 17 after being indicted by the Justice Department for allegedly mishandling classified material from the Trump administration. (Eric Lee/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
“I mean, this is the kind of information that, if it got out, could reveal sources and methods that have truly threatening consequences for national security.”
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According to the indictment, Bolton is accused of transmitting classified national defense information and illegally storing classified documents containing details about future attacks, intelligence strategies, covert operations and sensitive sources.
Bolton responded to the indictment as follows: “I have dedicated my life to America’s foreign policy and national security. I will never compromise those goals. I tried to do so during my tenure in the first Trump administration, but when it became impossible to do so, I resigned.”
Former National Security Advisor John Bolton in the White House in 2019. (Washington Post via Jabin Botsford/Getty Images)
“These accusations stem not only from his focus on me or my diaries, but from his concentrated effort to intimidate his rivals.”
FBI RAID ON JOHN BOLTON’S HOUSE WAS REPORTED TO BE CONNECTED WITH THE SECRET DOCUMENTS INVESTIGATION
Turley said although Bolton’s legal team claimed such document processing was common or involved older material, it “didn’t fly”.
“So the question is, secret or not? That’s why jurors tend to see these as pretty simple questions,” Turley said.
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“The other argument is what his lawyer suggests: Everyone does it, it’s just keeping a diary. That won’t work either. Whether you forward the document or its contents, it’s confidential and that’s subject to criminal law.”
Fox News’ Trey Gowdy, a former federal prosecutor, agreed with Turley about the seriousness of the case against Bolton.
Former national security adviser John Bolton waves as he arrives at his home in Bethesda, Maryland, on Friday (August 22). (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta)
“This is the most serious secret this country has. This is the kind of information that will get people killed. Millions of documents over the years,” Gowdy said Thursday on “Hannity.”
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“The biggest threat to this country may have been caused by Iran accessing his e-mail from his home. This is very, very serious.”
