Getty US National Security Advisor John Bolton arrives in Downing Street in London on August 13, 2019, ahead of his meeting with Britain's Chancellor of the Exchequer Sajid Javid.
A federal judge on Saturday denied the Trump administration’s request to block the upcoming publication of former national security advisor John Bolton’s tell-all, according to the New York Times.
Judge Royce C. Lamberth of the DC District Court issued the 10-page ruling, claiming the Justice Department’s ask for a temporary restraining order was not timely enough to stop the book’s release. “The Room Where it Happened: A White House Memoir” is slated for release on Tuesday and can be purchased on Amazon.
The judge noted that the tell-all has already been printed and distributed globally, making it a challenge to regulate and edit potentially classified information.
“With hundreds of thousands of copies around the globe — many in newsrooms — the damage is done. There is no restoring the status quo,” Lamberth wrote.
Trump
While the book recounts an “unflattering” behind-the-scenes take on the president, much of it has already been reported, the New York Times stated.
Trump took to Twitter following the ruling, writing that Bolton “broke the law.”
….Bolton broke the law and has been called out and rebuked for so doing, with a really big price to pay. He likes dropping bombs on people, and killing them. Now he will have bombs dropped on him!
He previously accused Bolton of lying back in January, as well as“releasing Classified Information (in massive amounts).”
The president wrote in a Tweet that, “He must pay a very big price for this, as others have before him. This should never to happen again!!!”
…..who was all washed up until I brought him back and gave him a chance, broke the law by releasing Classified Information (in massive amounts). He must pay a very big price for this, as others have before him. This should never to happen again!!!
Bolton Could Still Face Criminal Liability
GettyFormer National Security Advisor John Bolton listens to remarks by U.S. President Donald Trump as he speaks to the nation.
Lamberth warned Bolton that the author “may be in serious jeopardy of forfeiting his $2 million advance.”
CNN reported that the administration will push to “claw back proceeds from the book, including from any movie and TV rights, and other consequences for disclosing classified information.”
Bolton could also face prosecution for publishing the book ahead of a green light from a prepublication process scanning for any classified information, CNN continued.
Lamberth slammed Bolton for his move.
“Bolton has gambled with the national security of the United States,” he wrote. “He has exposed his country to harm and himself to civil (and potentially criminal) liability. But these facts do not control the motion before the court. The government has failed to establish that an injunction will prevent irreparable harm.”
Bolton’s Book is Full of Accusations Against the President
GettyU.S. President Donald Trump speaks during an East Room event to announce the “PREVENTS Task Force” at the White House June 17, 2020.
“The Room” details a claim that Trump asked Chinese politician Xi Jinping for help in the 2020 US presidential election, according to CNN. It continues further, writing that the president “expressed support for China’s concentration camps, among other embarrassing foreign relations conversations.”
Bolton also accuses Trump of telling him to freeze military aid to the Ukraine until President Volodymyr Zelensky agreed to launch an investigation into former Vice President Joe Biden, according to the New York Times.
Trump again denied the claim on Twitter, writing “NEVER told John Bolton that the aid to Ukraine was tied to investigations into Democrats, including the Bidens. In fact, he never complained about this at the time of his very public termination. If John Bolton said this, it was only to sell a book. With that being said, the transcripts of my calls with President Zelensky are all the proof that is needed, in addition to the fact that President Zelensky & the Foreign Minister of Ukraine said there was no pressure and no problems. Additionally, I met with President Zelensky at the United Nations (Democrats said I never met) and released the military aid to Ukraine without any conditions or investigations – and far ahead of schedule. I also allowed Ukraine to purchase Javelin anti-tank missiles. My Administration has done far more than the previous Administration.”
I NEVER told John Bolton that the aid to Ukraine was tied to investigations into Democrats, including the Bidens. In fact, he never complained about this at the time of his very public termination. If John Bolton said this, it was only to sell a book. With that being said, the…
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