United States v. Bolton
Legal Issues
BrynoDC Coverage 1 video
Overview
Overview
A Maryland grand jury indicted former National Security Advisor John Bolton on 18 counts of unlawfully retaining and transmitting classified material.
The Issue
Issue
Whether the defendant unlawfully retained and transmitted classified national defense information in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 793(e) and related statutes.
The Rules
Rule
Under the Espionage Act, 18 U.S.C. § 793(e), it is unlawful to willfully retain national defense information and fail to deliver it to proper authorities, or to knowingly transmit such information to unauthorized persons.
The Application
Analysis
Bolton, as former National Security Advisor with authorized access to classified material, allegedly retained such documents after leaving office and transmitted them to unauthorized recipients, satisfying the willful retention and transmission elements.
The Conclusion
Conclusion
On June 26, Bolton agreed to plead guilty to one count. He will forego his government retirement. While many details are not shared with the public, it appears he discussed matters with his wife and daughter who did not appear to share it with anyone else.
News Update
United States v. John Bolton (Indictment of Fmr National Security Advisor)
https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/71668443/81/united-states-v-bolton/?redirect_or_modal=True
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