John Bolton Faces Potential Charges Over Memoir

The United States Department of Justice is preparing to bring charges against former National Security Advisor John Bolton in connection with his memoir published in 2020. This move comes after a long legal battle that began after Bolton published the book "The Room Where It Happened: A White House Memoir" without the final approval of the White House. According to a Bloomberg News publication, which cites sources familiar with the situation, federal prosecutors intend to apply to a grand jury for confirmation of the official charge. The main accusation focuses on the claim that Bolton failed the pre-publication review process of his book, thereby possibly revealing classified information. This process is mandatory for former government officials who had access to classified materials during their tenure.

The legal dispute began back in 2020 when the then-administration filed a lawsuit in an attempt to block the publication of the book. The authorities claimed that the memoir contained information sensitive to national security and that Bolton had circumvented the necessary procedures. Although the court did not prohibit the publication of the book, which had already been widely distributed, the federal judge severely criticized Bolton's actions, stating that he had "gambled with US national security."

Now, the Department of Justice, which has continued the investigation, appears ready to open a criminal case. John Bolton, who served as National Security Advisor from 2018-2019, detailed his tenure in his book, revealing internal White House discussions and his disagreements with the president on foreign policy.