US Justice Department Pushes Swift Charges Against Former National Security Adviser John Bolton Amid Internal Prosecutorial Debate

Senior leaders at the U.S. Justice Department are pressing to rapidly charge former National Security Adviser John Bolton over alleged mishandling of classified documents, with some advocating for charges as soon as this week. The FBI's investigation, revived under Director Kash Patel, centers on Bolton's use of a private email server to send classified materials, including those marked "confidential," to his wife and daughter during his tenure in the Trump administration. Despite this push, many prosecutors involved believe waiting until the end of the year would yield a stronger case, leading to internal dissent and concerns over an aggressive timeline. The investigation originated in 2020 related to Bolton's book "The Room Where It Happened," but was previously halted during the Biden administration and has been reopened amid political pressures. The Justice Department's efforts to expedite charges against Bolton occur alongside moves to indict other Trump critics, such as former FBI Director James Comey, highlighting tensions within the department influenced by political considerations. Bolton's representatives deny wrongdoing, emphasizing that many of the documents date back decades and argue that Bolton acted within his official capacity.