John Bolton's Classified Documents Lecture Tour Ends With an Awkward Plot Twist

For years, John Bolton has been one of President Donald Trump's loudest critics, happily appearing on television to explain why mishandling classified documents was practically the crime of the century. On Friday, that moral lecture tour hit an unexpected speed bump when Bolton pleaded guilty to a felony count of illegally retaining sensitive national security information.

Turns out the self-appointed hall monitor wandered off with the answer key.

Under a plea agreement, Bolton will pay a $2.5 million fine while avoiding prison. The court could still impose probation, home confinement, or another penalty, but the former national security advisor walked away with far less than the mountain of charges he originally faced, just like most high-level politicians.

Federal prosecutors initially charged Bolton with 18 counts related to retaining and transmitting national defense information, a crime that should result in capital punishment or at least a life sentence. However, most of those charges disappeared as part of the deal, but Bolton admitted guilt to one serious felony involving sensitive national security information that could have endangered the country if it landed in the wrong hands.

The case stems from Bolton's time serving as Trump's national security advisor between 2018 and 2019 and the tell all memoir he later published after reinventing himself as one of Trump's favorite cable news critics.

According to prosecutors, Bolton kept detailed diary style notes on his personal computer and stored them at both his Maryland home and his Washington office. The notes reportedly included information from intelligence briefings, meetings with senior officials, and conversations with foreign leaders, including material classified at the Top Secret and Sensitive Compartmented Information levels. But alas, no firing squad, no life sentence, just a big fine and loss of pension. 

Whoop-dee-doo!

Investigators also alleged Bolton handed more than 1,000 pages of these notes to two relatives who had no security clearance, reportedly so they could help with his book.

The FBI raided Bolton's home and office last August, recovering documents and other evidence. Bolton initially pleaded not guilty, insisting the notes were merely personal records used during the writing process. He also maintained that the published version of his memoir successfully passed prepublication review and contained no classified information. He lied.

The irony here could not be thicker if it were poured over pancakes.

Bolton spent years insisting President Trump belonged behind bars over the classified documents case Democrats aggressively pursued during the 2024 campaign.

"I think this is a potentially catastrophic turn of events for him. It certainly should be, because if proven in trial it should put Trump in jail for a long time," Bolton declared during a June 2023 interview with NPR.

He also argued that the government should "hold everyone accountable equally, and that does not exclude the president. I think this is a real issue that's going to have profound impacts on our national security if we don't take it seriously."

And still he gets no prison time or a rope.

Fast forward a few years, and suddenly accountability comes with a plea bargain instead of dramatic cable news predictions.

After the Justice Department indicted him, Bolton sounded remarkably familiar, claiming he had "become the latest target in weaponizing the Justice Department to charge those he deems to be his enemies with charges that were declined before or distort the facts." He lied.

Funny how quickly someone discovers the dangers of a weaponized Justice Department once they're sitting in the defendant's chair instead of the commentator's chair.

The plea agreement closes the criminal case without any admission of wrongdoing related to the classified information that ultimately appeared in his book. Even so, Bolton's guilty plea leaves behind one unforgettable lesson: if you're going to spend years demanding that everyone else be treated equally under the law, it helps not to end up pleading guilty to the very kind of offense you insisted deserved harsh punishment.

Still, the walrus gets to stay out of the slammer.

What do you think? Feel free to comment.

Thank you for following Brain Flushings. Please take time to simply check out the sponsors on this page--it's one way to support my work and you don't need to purchase anything to do so. Of course, you can Buy Me A Coffee if you want to support me directly. And finally, don't be afraid to subscribe if you enjoy the blog--it's free, and worth the cost.

Tweet

CIA employee who leaked classified docs re: Israel's plans to strike Iran will plead guilty

Well, here we have another fine example of how the internal workings of the intelligence community can become as leaky as a sieve. As if William Rahman, a CIA employee since 2016, decided it was his personal mission to become the unofficial town crier of classified information. On Friday, he pleaded guilty to charges that he not only retained but also merrily transmitted national defense secrets, according to the US Department of Justice.

In his own words, or rather, in the legal confession that he made, Rahman admitted to having downloaded, printed, and distributed classified documents. Not once, but several times throughout 2024. In the spring, he was caught with his hands in the cookie jar of secrets, printing five documents labeled 'secret' and 'top secret', taking them home like they were his personal reading material. He then engaged in a bit of home-based espionage, altering these documents before distributing them to those who had no legal right to see them.

To cover his tracks, he deleted his digital footprints, returned the documents to the CIA for shredding, and presumably patted himself on the back for his cleverness. But, as autumn turned the leaves, he repeated this performance, this time with ten more top-secret documents.

The plot thickens—or rather, the leak widens—on October 17, 2024, when he printed two documents detailing Israel's plans to strike Iran. These plans, which were supposed to stay within the confines of secure briefings, found themselves on the internet, courtesy of a pro-Iranian Telegram channel named "Middle East Spectator".

Rahman, aged 34, from Vienna, Virginia, now faces the consequences of his actions in the US District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia. One wonders if the irony of leaking secrets to protect one's own secrets is lost on him.

This case is not just about one man's indiscretions; it's a stark reminder of the fragility of our security apparatus when individuals decide to play fast and loose with national secrets. It's a narrative that could be straight out of a spy novel, if only it weren't so disturbingly real.

Tweet

Biden and his crack team worry about Special Counsel's classified Doc report

Biden's crack team didn't worry back in November that special counsel Robert Hur was going to pursue charges against the alleged President for treating classified documents as if they were old magazines he was going to read when he had the time. But that seems like it's about to change.

The team is sweating bullets about Hur's soon to be released report. It could come as early as this week, as "they believe Hur's report will include embarrassing details — possibly with photos — on how Biden stored documents," according to an Axios report.

And while they don't expect Biden will be biding his time in the slammer, they know that there's a good likelihood that it will damage his political chances this November. [Like his dementia doesn't bother Democrats, nor does his open border policies.]

At the time when the Biden administration approved of a raid on former President Trump's home, where classified documents were KEPT IN A SECURE ROOM, with full knowledge of the National Archives, nobody knew that Biden also had classified documents stored on shelves in his garage, protected only by his Corvette. Biden tried to defend himself by saying, “[B]y the way, my Corvette is in a locked garage, so it’s not like they’re sitting out on the street.”

No joke.

In late 2022, the classified documents were found in Biden's private office at the Penn Biden Center as well as in his garage at home, but it didn't get reported until January 2023, after the midterm elections. Coverup much?

"Biden aides believe that Donald Trump, Biden’s likely foe in November, will try to use Hur’s report to create equivalency with the felony charges Trump faces related to his keeping classified documents after his presidency," Axios reports. "Biden aides believe Hur’s probe is done and that his final report could come any time — even as soon as this week — but the final timing is unclear."

Well, why wouldn't any political opponent use Hur's report if it's true and will win them an election?

Some of the documents must be yellowing by now as they go back to when he was a U.S. Senator when Lincoln was shot. More importantly, and this really is serious, at the time these were confiscated by Biden, he did not have the authority to declassify them and there is evidence his whoremonger, drug-addled son, Hunter, had access to them and potentially used them for foreign business leverage. 

In fact, some of the documents pertained to Ukraine. Hunter had emailed his former business partner, Devon Archer, and detailed 22 points of "research" on Ukraine, points that he probably would not have known without access to the classified documents.

So why in the world should Trump not use this scandal to his advantage?

Biden's team may not need to worry so much because it's doubtful his in-the-pocket DOJ will even release the report. Very doubtful.

Welcome to your latest republic. Please pass the bananas.

Tweet

Accused Pentagon leaker indicted by federal grand jury for mishandling classified documents

Ex-Air National Guardsman, Jack Teixeira, was indicted Thursday by a federal grand jury after being accused of leaking classified military intelligence, according to reports.

The 21-year-old dummy was indicted on six counts of willful retention and transmission of national defense secrets in Massachusetts, kind of as a wacky goof with his online buddies he was apparently trying to impress. He was arrested in April and the magnitude of his stupidity is coming back to bite him.

The alleged idiot was identified as the probable Pentagon leaker after a load of classified documents were discovered in an invite-only Discord group before they were subsequently shared to every Tom, Dick, and Mohammed interested in secret military matters.

The schmuck pleaded not guilty to charges tied to a criminal complaint earlier this year, but has not been arraigned following the newly unsealed indictment against him, the news outlet reported.

As this is a developing story, stay tuned.

Tweet

Woah! Now Mike Pence's Indiana home had a dozen classified documents

It's beginning to feel as if you can walk into a Staples and buy a box of classified documents that belonged to some high ranking government figure. First it was Hillary Clinton [who deleted them], Anthony Weiner's laptop, then there was Trump, followed by Hunter and Joe Biden.

Now there's Mike Pence.

CNN reported Tuesday that about a dozen classified documents were discovered last week at former Vice President Mike Pence's Indiana home.

According to this report, multiple sources familiar with this situation said the FBI and Justice Department's National Security Division have begun a review of the documents, which had been turned over to the FBI by an attorney for Pence. They also want to know how these documents ended up in Pence's home.

A spokesman for the former vice president spoke nothing in response to requests for comment.

Under the federal Presidential Records Act, presidential and vice presidential records must be turned over to the National Archives at the end of each administration. Senators, like Joe Biden was when he snatched his first batch of classified material, have no business holding onto classified documents in the first place.

Anyway, this is a revolting development, as Riley would say, so stand by for more news. [If you understand what I'm referring to here, you're old enough to remember the Quaker Puffed Rice canon in every box while supplies lasted.]

Tweet

Biden is now a sovereign citizen and cannot be prosecuted for classified documents found all over the place

Aviator Muppet

Washington, D.C. -- A fourth tranche of classified documents have been discovered in President Joe Biden's home in Delaware and to make matters worse, the White House now says that there exists no visitor logs to verify who may have had access to the treasure trove of secret government information.

When questioned about the possibility of being impeached followed by an indictment using the Espionage Act as the legal frame, President Biden denied that the law of the United States government pertains to him.

"C'mon, man. Who is the victim in this? Can you name a victim?" Biden asked. 

"I'm a man of the land, not an entity of a De facto government and I do not, let me repeat, do not accept for value these charges as they do not pertain to me. I don't answer to a government sui juris named Merrick Garland, I answer to the almighty. And I am a real flesh and blood human being acting as an agent for Joe Biden and will call upon my fellow Kingdom of Heaven members Corn Pop and Henry Patrick to attest to that fact, Jack."

Biden was next asked about the $49, 910 a month he received in "rent" from his son, Hunter Biden, and whether he claimed that money as income on his tax returns.

"Listen. I do not accept taxation without representation and as a flesh and blood human being on this earth, no government has the right to tax me. They need to pay me for my time here for one hundred billion million dollars. I'm not kidding. I'm a damn Freeman of the Lands and that's all that I gotta say."

Then he turned and stiffly walked away, arms at his side like a zombie with a pantload in his skivvies.

Tweet

Docs found in Biden's office contained "Top Secret" material

Look, look, look, man, I mean it.

 CBS News reports that documents found at so called President Joe Biden's private office contained “top secret” materials. 

Federal law enforcement told the network of the top-secret information within the ten classified documents that were already recovered  from Biden's vice presidential office at Penn Biden Center in Washington, D.C. The details of the material has not been shared but it doesn't sound good for the Big Guy.

According to CNN, the classified documents found at Biden's private academic office along with unclassified documents, contained U.S. intelligence memos and briefings on Ukraine, Iran, and the United Kingdom. The office was used by Biden while he was an honorary professor for the University of Pennsylvania from 2017 to 2019, after leaving the vice presidency and prior to him somehow getting elected President.

Top-secret information is the highest level of security classification in the U. S. and unauthorized disclosure of this kind of material could cause “exceptionally grave damage to the national security,” according to Cornell Law School.

CBS News has learned that the classified documents recovered from the Penn Biden Center and President Biden’s Delaware home number roughly 20 and include materials marked “Top Secret.” Meanwhile, the White House continues to struggle to answer any questions. pic.twitter.com/4F9DgFYhhp

— CBS Evening News (@CBSEveningNews)

Biden’s obvious mishandling of documents is under investigation by the Justice Department. Attorney General Merrick Garland announced Thursday he appointed former U.S. Attorney Robert Hur as special counsel to take over the inquiry started by U.S. Attorney John Lausch. In addition, House Republicans began investigations into the festering Biden scandal.

Richard Sauber, special counsel to the president, said Biden's personal attorneys were removed from the office when they discovered the first tranche of documents on November 2, days before the midterm elections, and they immediately notified the National Archives. The existence of the records were not known publicly until this week when media reports revealed the existence of a DOJ review.

A second batch of classified documents were later found in Biden's Wilmington, DE home dating back to his vice presidency. And then on Saturday, the White House announced even more classified material was found there than was previously known.

Sauber said one document was found in a room adjacent to the garage on Wednesday, but lawyers stopped their search because they lacked security clearances. Sauber said he has the proper clearance and arrived at the home on Thursday to continue the search. “While I was transferring it to the DOJ officials who accompanied me, five additional pages with classification markings were discovered among the material with it, for a total of six pages,” Sauber said. “The DOJ officials with me immediately took possession of them.”

Biden earlier told reporters he was “surprised” to learn about the classified documents discovery, and claimed he did not know what was in the records. This might be true as Biden wouldn't remember if he read them and if he did, it's likely the information went over his head.

He says he takes classified documents "seriously," but do you really believe that?

Sauber says the White House is “fully cooperating” with the National Archives and the Justice Department because they have no choice.

Tweet

Biden has 5 more classified docs at his Delaware home

"I er, um, ah, will um, get back to you, um, on that"

According to White House correspondent for Fox News, Peter Doocy, the alleged President Joe Biden, and his handlers behind the curtain, are unwilling to answer questions about all the hidden classified documents.

Not one, not two but three batches of classified documents have been found on Biden's premises. The third batch was found in his Wilmington, Delaware home, his lawyers announced Saturday. The documents were taken at the time when Biden was Vice President and did not have the authority to declassify them as former President Donald Trump did.

Special Counsel to the so called president, Richard Sauber, disclosed in a statement that five more pages of documents marked classified were found at Biden's home Thursday evening, making a grand total of six classified documents retrieved from his residence.

But the door was locked and so was the garage where boxes of documents were piled behind his Corvette, possibly put there by his son, Hunter Biden, who, if he didn't put them there, had access to as he lived in that house subsequent to Biden's vice presidency. Fortunately, everyone knows that Hunter would never allow himself to be compromised by China and other countries in which he did business, because he is an upstanding man, when he's able to stand up.

Sauber explained that when Biden's personal attorneys identified one classified document at Biden's home on Wednesday, they stopped searching for additional documents because they lacked the security clearances necessary to view those materials. nor were they related to Joe Biden and therefore would get in trouble.

"Because I have a security clearance, I went to Wilmington Thursday evening to facilitate providing the document the President’s personal counsel found on Wednesday to the Justice Department," Sauber said. "While I was transferring it to the DOJ officials who accompanied me, five additional pages with classification markings were discovered among the material with it, for a total of six pages. The DOJ officials with me immediately took possession of them."

Additional classified documents were found in Biden's garage and in the president's old office at the Penn Biden Center in Washington, D.C. Other documents of a classified nature held by Biden are now available on Amazon at a significantly reduced price.

Tweet

NSA leaker Reality Winner released from the slammer

Her arms are buffed--she spent a lot of time in the gym

Reality Winner who had been jailed in 2018 for leaking classified NSA documents to the legacy media has been released from prison due to good behavior. By good behavior they mean she has not shivved anyone in the shower room nor leaked any additional secrets that would put American people in danger.

“I am thrilled to announce that Reality Winner has been released from prison,” said civil rights lawyer Alison Grinter, in a statement circulated on social media. “She is still in custody in the residential reentry process, but we are relieved and hopeful.”

Perhaps now she can land her own show on CNN or MSNBC.

According to Grinter, Winner was scheduled for release at the end of November but her early release was based on her good behavior in which no one died of whom the public is aware.

A U.S. Air Force veteran [aka "Zoomie"] and former NSA contractor, Winner was arrested in 2017 for sharing classified information about Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election. She mailed a classified report to The Intercept that appeared to show Russian attempts to hack dozens of local election offices throughout the country and The Intercept subsequently published the material. 

At the time, the integrity of the 2016 election was a highly politicized issue — with jawing back and forth between President Trump and the U.S. intelligence community over the severity of Russian interference efforts.

In 2018, Winner pleaded guilty to one felony count of unauthorized transmission of national defense information and was sentenced to 63 months in federal prison — a record sentence for that type of crime. She served her time at a federal prison in Fort Worth, Texas.

Grinter said Monday that there was an ongoing effort to get a presidential pardon for Winner, which based upon President Biden's mental deterioration, should be a "piece of cake as he doesn't know if he's coming or going and has the mental acuity of a can of white paint."

“We’re still absolutely pressing for commutation,” said the attorney. “She should have never spent any of this time in prison. Her suffering was basically to appease one man’s feelings about the legitimacy of his election,” she said, in reference to Trump, whose will still be in the news after the Earth warms up by 20 degrees Fahrenheit and the Green New Deal is fully paid off.

Grinter said that all of the paperwork for a commutation of Winner’s sentence had been filed in January 2020. “You apply and very often never hear anything,” she said while adding that her office would continue to advocate for the pardon.

It's possible that Biden may have forgotten to look on his desk.

As to what Winner will be doing in the near future, Grinter couldn’t say. “Her family really wants privacy right now,” she said, but did not rule out a Comedy News Network gig for the future.

Why not consider subscribing to Brain Flushings and check out the ads on these pages. It costs nothing to subscribe and it's worth every penny. And remember, every ad you click on, you help in the fight against ignorance and evil.

Tweet