Raskin Critiques Trump Over Bolton Indictment
Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.) expressed criticism towards the Trump administration on Friday regarding the indictment of former national security adviser John Bolton.
Bolton has been indicted by a federal grand jury for allegedly transmitting and retaining national defense information, marking him as the latest critic of Trump to face legal consequences.
During an appearance on CNN, Raskin stated, “It’s hard to say anything about this other than to say that had Mr. Bolton not broken with Donald Trump, he would be facing these charges today.”
The Maryland representative claimed that Bolton could argue a case for being targeted through “selective” and “retaliatory prosecution.” This statement followed Bolton’s recent remarks about Trump “melting down” in front of Russian President Vladimir Putin during the ongoing Ukraine conflict.
Raskin further accused Trump of blending governmental duties with personal profit-making ventures.
“He even wrote a book suggesting that if Trump were to win a second term, it would be significantly worse than the first,” Raskin noted to host John Berman.
“Clearly, revenge is being taken for such statements,” he remarked.
Bolton’s legal issues come on the heels of indictments against former FBI Director James Comey and New York State Attorney General Letitia James (D), who both investigated Trump prior to the previous election.
Editorials from sources like The Wall Street Journal and various political commentators alleged that Trump has initiated a campaign of retaliation against those who oppose him since returning to the White House.
“Mr. Bolton will have his day in court, and we look forward to his defense. In our experience, he is a patriot who would not jeopardize national security,” the Journal editorial stated. “It’s safe to say that if Mr. Bolton had praised Mr. Trump in his book, he would not have been indicted.”
After an FBI search of his home earlier this year, Bolton pleaded not guilty to the charges during his arraignment on Friday. He previously asserted that he would “never” compromise U.S. foreign policy or national security interests.
After the indictment, Bolton remarked, “These charges are not just aimed at me and my diary; they are part of an effort to intimidate opponents and control the narrative about their actions.”
“Dissent and disagreement are foundational to America’s constitutional fabric and essential to our freedoms. I’m ready to defend myself and reveal my lawful conduct. This is an abuse of power,” Bolton added.
On Thursday, Trump informed reporters that he was unaware of Bolton’s indictment but went on to critique his character. “I think he’s a bad person. I think he’s a bad person,” Trump reiterated.
