RCP's Susan Crabtree: Bolton's Security Clearance in Jeopardy in Wake of Leaks from Book

When will you realize...? Doha waits for you...

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Seeing his security clearance revoked is an almost certainty for Bolton once the impeachment trial is over, according to two government officials who spoke on condition of anonymity, as well as legal experts -- all of whom say Bolton could face additional fallout for his role in the impeachment drama this week.

Several media outlets have reported that the irascible veteran national security official circulated a draft manuscript of the book containing the quid pro quo arguments to close associates before delivering it to the White House Records Management Directorate for pre-publication review, as required, and could face criminal prosecution if proof he did so surfaces.

"If your manuscript includes classified information, then you're committing a felony by passing it around," a former White House official told RealClearPolitics.

Bolton has denied leaking the book excerpts, insisting in a statement that "there was absolutely no coordination with the New York Times or anyone else regarding the appearance of information about this book."

As Sean Davis (I think) pointed out, that is not a denial of leaking the material to the New York Times, but merely a denial of "coordination" as to the "appearance of information" -- that is, he seems to only be denying he conspired as to the timing of the leaks, not that the leaks were made.

Thanks to artisinal 'ette.

Here's a Fun Fact: Who hired the Vindman Twins?

John F'n' Bolton, that's who.

In July 2018, three months or so after becoming President Trump's national security adviser, Bolton hired both Army Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman as a Ukraine policy specialist for the National Security Council and his identical twin brother, Army Lt. Col. Yevgeny Vindman, as deputy legal counsel in the NSC's "ethics" office.

Bolton is totally responsible for this pair of unusual hires. There is no explaining this strange duo of appointments as something that the bureaucracy simply slipped over on Bolton. That is not Bolton's way.

Anyone who has been involved in national security affairs in Republican administrations since 1981 knows that it is impossible that the Vindman brothers were given sensitive jobs in Bolton's NSC without Bolton having become assured of their usefulness and loyalty to Bolton and his agenda. Both the Ukraine policy and the "ethics attorney" slots are of vast personal priority to Bolton.

Semi-related: Rick Scott releases an add about Biden's corruption, on eve of Iowa vote.

posted by Ace at 02:59 PM

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