The DOJ is reportedly rushing to indict former National Security Adviser John Bolton — not because prosecutors are confident in the evidence, but to placate Donald Trump. According to a CNN report, DOJ leadership is pressuring prosecutors to rush the case in order to show the president that his demands are being taken seriously.
“Currently, the prosecutors think they could bring a stronger case by the end of the year against Bolton over the mishandling of national security documents, rather than pushing for a charge at this time,” wrote CNN’s Katelyn Polantz and Hannah Rabinowitz. But a source said, “Some political leadership at the Justice Department see the Bolton case as a way to charge a criminal case Trump would like to see to placate the president.”
Let that sink in: a possible federal indictment, fast-tracked not on the merits of the case, but to soothe Trump’s ego.
The investigation into Bolton began under the Biden administration, after officials discovered classified materials in his possession. But Biden’s DOJ reportedly held off on charging him — not necessarily because he was in the clear, but because a prosecution might reveal sensitive intelligence methods to foreign adversaries. They weighed the risk and decided against moving forward.
Now, that calculation seems to have changed — not because of new evidence, but because Trump is back on the warpath.
Bolton, for his part, denies any wrongdoing. He says the documents in question are old and were declassified before he got them.
The response to the news was swift — and furious. Even critics of Bolton are alarmed.
Miles Taylor, a former national security official who served in the Trump administration, called it out plainly: “DOJ might charge John Bolton as soon as this week. … Wow. Charging people with crimes. To make Trump happy. Land of the free.”
Legal analyst Dr. Tracy A. Pearson didn’t hold back either. “Charging Bolton, or anyone, just to make the Felon happy? That’s not justice. That’s a tantrum,” she wrote. “Picture it: a 3-year-old screaming for a cookie. DOJ isn’t supposed to be the parent who caves, handing him the whole jar. That’s not rule of law, that’s daycare.”
Adding to the outrage: the case doesn’t even appear ready for indictment.
CNN reported that investigators still need to determine whether the documents are even still classified. “Investigators previously collected many records from his home and office, some marked as classified, and they may need to take additional steps examining the evidence and interviewing witnesses before a case could be charged,” their source said.
Shane Harris of The Atlantic agreed: “Indeed. Like determining if the documents are even still classified. Or speaking with officials Bolton worked with at the time to determine if he had some reason for taking them. This is basic work before bringing a charge.”
But instead of doing that work, DOJ officials — under pressure — may be jumping ahead to deliver Trump a political win.
This report comes as Trump continues to call for indictments of his political enemies — including former FBI Director James Comey and New York Attorney General Letitia James. In fact, reports suggest Comey could also be indicted in the coming days.
Author and activist Elizabeth Cronise McLaughlin warned what this really is: a dangerous abuse of power.
“Much as I hate to defend Jim Comey, I need to point something out: It is not his own actions that have resulted in this chain of events. It is not his ‘karma.’ It is a violent, blatant abuse of power by the DOJ to carry out a revenge tour on behalf of the president,” she wrote.
“You can’t be halfway in for the weaponization of the DOJ,” she continued. “If you are in favor of the DOJ doing this to Comey, you have to be ok with it doing the same to Maddow, to Kamala, to YOU. Everyone understand? The state should NEVER have this power. Even and perhaps especially against someone you don’t like.”
Love or hate John Bolton, the core issue here isn’t just about him. It’s about whether the Justice Department is being hijacked to serve the personal grudges of one man — a man facing 91 criminal charges of his own.
If Bolton is indicted this week, it won’t be because the case is rock solid or because national security demands it. It’ll be because Donald Trump wanted it — and someone inside DOJ decided that was enough.
