[Washington Examiner] A federal judge ruled on Thursday that the Justice Department’s lawsuit against John Bolton alleging that he breached his obligations and improperly disclosed classified information in his new book is allowed to move forward, rejecting the former White House national security adviser’s efforts to dismiss the case.
"As a condition of becoming National Security Advisor to President Trump, John Bolton signed three nondisclosure agreements with the United States. Those agreements guard classified information, including classified information about intelligence sources and methods known as sensitive compartmented information," Judge Royce Lamberth of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia wrote in a 27-page opinion.
"Because the agreements imposed both obligations and because the government plausibly pleads that Bolton breached those obligations, the Court will deny Bolton's pending motion to dismiss," the Ronald Reagan appointee added.
"We are pleased with the ruling," Justice Department spokeswoman Kerri Kupec told the Washington Examiner.
Charles Cooper, Bolton's lawyer, told the Washington Examiner the "court’s decision, which we are still studying, means that the case will now move forward to the phase in which the parties will develop and present their evidence to the court." |