Déjà Vu at the DOJ? Bolton Back in the Crosshairs

Jay here: Well folks, it looks like the saga of John Bolton and his tell-all book, “The Room Where It Happened,” is back in the headlines. Just when you thought one administration had turned the page, the current one seems determined to flip back and reread a chapter that many thought was closed.

You might recall that back in 2020, Bolton’s book, which painted a less-than-flattering picture of the Trump presidency, became a lightning rod. The Trump administration at the time certainly didn’t mince words, accusing Bolton of spilling classified information and trying to block its publication. There were investigations, legal wrangling, the whole nine yards. Ultimately, the book saw the light of day, and Bolton wasn’t charged.

But fast forward to today, and it seems the legal hounds are back on the scent. Reports are surfacing about a renewed look into potential leaks related to Bolton’s book. Now, forgive me if I sound a tad cynical, but in a political landscape where disagreements often lead to legal skirmishes, this feels awfully familiar.

We’ve seen a pattern, haven’t we? Disagreement with the former president has often been met with swift and, some would argue, heavy-handed responses. Whether it was news outlets, individual journalists, or even former administration officials who dared to step out of line, the reaction was often… intense. This renewed scrutiny of Bolton feels like another verse in that same song.

And let’s not forget the well-worn playbook of blaming past administrations for current woes. It’s a common tactic, isn’t it? When things go south, point the finger elsewhere – preferably at the folks who were in charge before. In most any other arena, be it business or life in general, you wouldn’t see the current CEO blaming the previous one for ongoing, real-time issues. It just doesn’t hold water.

The fact that the FBI is reportedly involved again in looking into Bolton’s book, after a previous investigation concluded without charges, raises eyebrows. Is this a genuine pursuit of justice, or is it, as some might suspect, a politically motivated move? Is the Department of Justice and the FBI being weaponized to settle old scores and send a message to anyone considering speaking out?

Look, regardless of what you think about John Bolton or his book, the optics of this are hard to ignore. Reopening an investigation that was previously closed smells of political theater. It reinforces the narrative that dissenting voices will be met with the full force of the legal system.

What do you make of all this? Is this a legitimate effort to protect classified information, or is it something more… politically charged? Let’s hear your thoughts in the comments below.