#BoltonBook hearing
Government lawyer says the onus is on John Bolton on how to pull back the 200,000 copies of his book before it is released; Bolton created the problem and should fix it.
Government lawyer says the onus is on John Bolton on how to pull back the 200,000 copies of his book before it is released; Bolton created the problem and should fix it.
Government lawyer: there is no precedent for an author engaging in a classification review for a work and then bailing out of it.
The government lawyer is David Michael Morrell.
For those who want to follow along the #BoltonBook hearing but see the line full, the overflow line info:
Toll Free Number: 877-336-1831
Access Code: 9688268
Toll Free Number: 877-336-1831
Access Code: 9688268
Bolton's book included at least three instances of TOP SECRET/SCI information after he had walked away from the classification review process.
Morrell: Bolton's book received an additional level of reviewing because the work presented the extraordinary circumstance of a former national security advisor writing about an administration which is still in power.
Attribution note. The following is according to Morrell (for USA): Bolton's book included at least three instances of TOP SECRET/SCI information after he had walked away from the classification review process.
Both the judge and the lawyers for Bolton have chosen the same phrase for the state of the Bolton book: the horse is out of the barn.
Bolton's attorney points out that Michael Ellis, the NSC's senior director for intelligence programs, had not yet received his original classification authority training at the time he conducted the second review of Bolton's book.
Judge points out that William Evanina—one of the officials who filed an affidavit with the government attesting that the Bolton book contains classified information— has been around since before the Trump admin and can be trusted as a non-partisan.
Here's what Evanina wrote:
Here's what Evanina wrote:
Morrell: the question is who let the horse out of the barn? Bolton. Argues that Bolton's lack of notice to the government about the book release scraps the argument that it's too late to do anything.
Morrell cites precedent to suggest that the onus was on Bolton to seek judicial review of the classification review process.
Judge says he will review the classified submissions in camera at the courthouse before he makes a determination in the case. There are some hiccups with the courthouse because of demonstrations but looks like this can happen today.
NEWS: Judge in #BoltonBook case will decide on the motions before the court after reviewing classified information in person.
