Trump goes 'STALIN'? Trump vet Bolton vows to fight 'Stalinist' charges by his former boss 47

Legal & Compliance Risks - The DOJ is indicting former Trump official John Bolton for allegedly mishandling classified information, involving 18 criminal counts related to retention and transmission of national defense information [1][2] - Allegedly, Bolton shared over 1,000 pages of information about his activities as NSA with unauthorized individuals, potentially his wife and daughter, via a commercial messaging application [3][4] - The core of the case revolves around Bolton allegedly keeping notes/diary entries with classified information and sharing it with unauthorized individuals, which constitutes unlawful transmission [5] - Legal experts note the existence of a longer case record, but also question the DOJ's impartiality given recent actions and potential political motivations [8][10][21] - Concerns are raised about selective prosecution, comparing Bolton's case to similar conduct by others who were not investigated [27][28] National Security Implications - The indictment details the transmission of classified information, including top-secret information, over unclassified communication systems like Gmail [22][23] - This transmission to unauthorized individuals (wife and daughter) posed a security risk, as a hack occurred [23] - The case is considered serious due to the nature of the classified information involved and the potential compromise of national security [22][25] Political & Reputational Risks - The case raises questions about potential political targeting, given Trump's past criticisms of Bolton [5][7][13] - The indictment may be perceived as part of a broader pattern of actions by the DOJ that are influenced by political considerations [9][10][11] - The case could impact perceptions of fairness and impartiality within the justice system, potentially leading to a systemic flaw [27] - Bolton's reputation as a conservative Republican is highlighted, emphasizing the potential impact of the case on individuals who break with Trump [14][18]