White House tells Bolton his manuscript contains classified material, cannot be published

By Jeff Mason

 

FILE PHOTO: National Security Advisor John Bolton adjusts his glasses as U.S. President Donald Trump speaks while meeting with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg in the Oval Office at the White House in Washington, U.S., April 2, 2019. REUTERS/Joshua Roberts

 

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The White House has informed former national security adviser John Bolton that his book manuscript appeared to contain "significant amounts of classified information" and could not be published in its current form.

 

The letter from the White House National Security Council to Bolton's attorney, Charles Cooper, and seen by Reuters, said the manuscript contained some material that was considered "TOP SECRET" that could reasonably be expected to cause "exceptionally grave harm" to U.S. national security if disclosed without authorization.

 

"Under federal law and the nondisclosure agreements your client signed as a condition for gaining access to classified information, the manuscript may not be published or otherwise disclosed without the deletion of this classified information," the letter said.

 

The letter, which was sent via email to Cooper, was dated Jan. 23.

 

The manuscript has upended the impeachment trial against Republican President Donald Trump, for whom Bolton worked.

 

The New York Times reported on Sunday that Trump told Bolton in August he wanted to continue to freeze $391 million in security aid to Ukraine until officials there helped with investigations into Democrats, including former Vice President Joe Biden, a Democratic presidential candidate, and his son, Hunter.

 

That revelation has bolstered Democrats' push to call Bolton as a witness in the impeachment trial, in which Trump is accused of abusing his power over his dealings with Ukraine and of obstructing Congress.

 

The letter, signed by Ellen Knight, the senior director for records, access and information security management, said Bolton's manuscript was still being studied.

 

"The manuscript remains under review in order for us to do our best to assist your client by identifying the classified information within the manuscript," it said. "We will do our best to work with you to ensure your client's ability to tell his story in a manner that protects U.S. national security."

 

(Reporting by Jeff Mason in Washington; Editing by Bernadette Baum and Matthew Lewis)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2020-01-30

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2 minutes ago, webfact said:

The White House has informed former national security adviser John Bolton that his book manuscript appeared to contain "significant amounts of classified information" and could not be published in its current form

But it is OK to leak it 

 

Since the White House illegally made multiple copies 

 

Where were the WH lawyers when they had the Xerox party ? 

Just another attempt to withhold the truth from the American people lie deny defy obstruct and play victim what a lousy administration 

The White House staff will have to redact every little piece that implicates him before they will release the manuscript so the info will never see the light of day unless a copy is handed over to the media . 

16 minutes ago, keith101 said:

The White House staff will have to redact every little piece that implicates him before they will release the manuscript so the info will never see the light of day unless a copy is handed over to the media . 

Based upon the leaks already published they appear to have already handed a copy over to the media

The timing is suspect...get free publicity to see more copies...a little payback appears to be part of the motivation...disappointing.

Trumps whole life has been consumed with covering up lies and corruption

6 hours ago, Tug said:

Just another attempt to withhold the truth from the American people lie deny defy obstruct and play victim what a lousy administration 

 

Another amazing example of left wing liberal hypocrisy.

 

When Bolton was on Trumps team he was called a liar, war mongering hawk who couldn't be trusted.

 

Now he's saying something that's against Trump he suddenly is a truthful good person who must be believed.

 

All politics. Nothing to do with the truth and justice.

48 minutes ago, Redline said:

Trumps whole life has been consumed with covering up lies and corruption

 

So he was well suited to go into politics then. And could've picked either side.

10 minutes ago, Baerboxer said:

When Bolton was on Trumps team he was called a liar, war mongering hawk who couldn't be trusted.

Right. That is exactly what he is.

 

13 minutes ago, Baerboxer said:

Now he's saying something that's against Trump he suddenly is a truthful good person who must be believed.

I would actually say his motivation in this instance would highly favor him to lie for Trump, not against him. By telling the truth, he is falling out of favor with both his party, and nobody on the left is ever going to be pals with him. 

 

He is going to be testifying under oath. So yes, considering what I said above, and the fact that he could go to jail if he lies, I would say he is most likely telling the truth in this instance. It seems obvious he was looking out for A#1 as most of these <deleted> people do, he had a juicy fact to make public, and he went ahead and cashed in on it. Lying under oath is far fetched even for these sociopaths though. 

 

What do you think he did? Lied to sell books? If that is true, doesn't it reflect poorly on Trump for having him in such a high position?

 

So, best case scenario, Bolton is lying and Trump hires the worst scumbags imaginable. That is your argument? 

He will soon make money advertising mustache scissors, and Hollywood will make a movie out of his book. 

44 minutes ago, Baerboxer said:

 

Another amazing example of left wing liberal hypocrisy.

 

When Bolton was on Trumps team he was called a liar, war mongering hawk who couldn't be trusted.

 

Now he's saying something that's against Trump he suddenly is a truthful good person who must be believed.

 

All politics. Nothing to do with the truth and justice.

Another amazing example of right wing Trump hypocrisy.

 

When Bolton was on Trump's team he was a respected expert and a Faux News darling.

 

Now he's saying something that's against Trump and suddenly he's a deep state operative that can't be trusted.

I can image how it will be redacted, I.e. "I said I will not be involved in a [...] deal" ????

I sense even more desperation than usual from the West Wing. Trump is scared. Very, very scared. He is scared of the truth. He knows his own guilt. And he will hide it at all costs to the nation. 

 

He is the ultimate traitor. And a coward. 

3 minutes ago, spidermike007 said:

I sense even more desperation than usual from the West Wing. Trump is scared. Very, very scared. He is scared of the truth. He knows his own guilt. And he will hide it at all costs to the nation. 

 

He is the ultimate traitor. And a coward. 

Confirmation bias?

27 minutes ago, candide said:

I can image how it will be redacted, I.e. "I said I will not be involved in a [...] deal" ????

For Trump's base it's a simple manner of Trump saying it isn't true.  Remember, these are the people who believed Trump when he said economic indicators were fake when they said the economy under Obama was good, and believed Trump when he said the same economic indicators were real when they said the economy under him was good.

 

Long ago when I read "1984" I couldn't imagine how people from a free society could fall under the influence of Big Brother.  Now we are witnessing it happen.

Edited January 30, 20206 yr by heybruce

1 hour ago, heybruce said:

Another amazing example of right wing Trump hypocrisy.

 

When Bolton was on Trump's team he was a respected expert and a Faux News darling.

 

Now he's saying something that's against Trump and suddenly he's a deep state operative that can't be trusted.

There is a montage of all the welcomes he got at fox news before and after this.

 

Before: "oh ambassador bolton, it is so lovely to see you again (hugs)"

 

After: "liar"

 

https://youtu.be/-AEzA4avnxs

The current WH administrations statements about the book having classified material hold up about as well as the new border wall.

 

A newly-built chunk of Trump's new border wall blew over in heavy wind and landed in Mexico

 

Quote

A portion of President Donald Trump's border wall blew in strong winds and fell into Mexico, according to NBC News-affiliate KYMA.

 

3 hours ago, Baerboxer said:

 

Another amazing example of left wing liberal hypocrisy.

 

When Bolton was on Trumps team he was called a liar, war mongering hawk who couldn't be trusted.

 

Now he's saying something that's against Trump he suddenly is a truthful good person who must be believed.

 

All politics. Nothing to do with the truth and justice.

Yes, it's the usual "the enemy of my enemy is my friend" calculation that Democrats often embrace.  McCain and Romney were racists and mean and liars when they had the nerve to run for POTUS -- but when they became "mavericks" -- well that's different now! 

 

Very odd that the Dems don't show equal respect and love to their own mavericks -- like Senators Manchin and Sinema and Congressman Jeff Van Drew.  

Yet another FALSE NEWS STORY.  The "White House" did no such thing.  Another regulatory arm of the U.S. Government issued a standardized letter to the author stipulating what a former government employee could publish, and what is prohibited.  So much garbage being fed to the public for consumption.

I was waiting for the other foot to drop after Bolton offered to testify.   Short of assassination, there is nothing that Trump will not do to screw Bolton or any senator who goes against him.!

 

It is truly a sad thing that The USA elected this man of few gifts as President.  Alas, the Republican party will only win future elections via the same route.  The electoral college is an anachronism that has long outlived it's time.

Off-topic post and replies removed. 

 

15 hours ago, webfact said:

the manuscript contained some material that was considered "TOP SECRET"

Must be that he declared in his book that the POTU is a serial liar.

 

Common guy, it's not a secret any more

Kissinger's reincarnation?