NYTimes: We May Never See John Bolton's Book

[spanone]

The fate of his memoir is up to government censors. That’s troubling.

Thanks to a leak to the press, we all now know that John Bolton has written an explosive account of President Trump’s fateful decision to withhold hundreds of millions of dollars in security assistance from Ukraine. But it is far from clear how much of this story the public will be permitted to read, and when.

Like millions of others who once held a security clearance, Mr. Bolton, President Trump’s former national security adviser, is barred from publishing a book or blog post about his experience in government without first submitting it to official censors. As a result, what the public will see of Mr. Bolton’s account of malfeasance and corruption in the White House is, to a disturbing extent, up to the White House itself to decide.

The logic behind the requirement of prepublication review is easy to understand. Public servants with security clearances have access to classified information. The review system allows agencies like the Central Intelligence Agency and Defense Department to ensure that former employees who write books and other public materials don’t disclose secrets inadvertently. (Those who actually intend to disclose classified information don’t submit their manuscripts for government review, of course — and they can be prosecuted for revealing secrets.)

The system amounts to a prior restraint on speech, because it gives the agencies the chance to censor manuscripts before their publication. Though prior restraints are usually unconstitutional, including in the national security context, the government argues that they are justified because they are imposed through nondisclosure agreements signed by employees

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https://www.nytimes.com/2020/01/30/opinion/trump-john-bolton-book.html?action=click&module=Opinion&pgtype=Homepage

[brutus smith]

1. We won't see his book. Even if we did it wouldn't matter.

The Republic will be dead if they acquit trump.

[C_U_L8R]

2. Screw his stupid self-serving book

If he doesn't have the guts to come forward today, Bolton and his book are irrelevant. Just insignificant roadkill on the path to total rule and dictatorship.

[crickets]

11. Couldn't agree more.

He had his moment to stand up and speak, but chose to hold out for the royalties. What a selfish ass.

[Arkansas Granny]

3. Someone remarked yesterday that it's sitting in a drawer with Trump's tax returns.

[Pachamama]

4. Pigs get fat - hogs get slaughtered

Too bad Bolton wanted to be a hog....

If he had prioritized saving our democracy he would have not only been a historical figure and hero for our Nation, but also very rich.

Bolton could have at any time come forward and testified without a subpoena to the House, could have met without Rachel Maddow or others for prime time interviews and the book would have probably had more pre-orders on Amazon. Now it might not be published or be so censored it will be garbage. And now if he does interviews, it leaves one looking at him like the biggest dickwad after Alan Derschowitz.

Attention to all those who pre-ordered on Amazon Bolton’s book: Not too late to cancel

[TheBlackAdder]

8. I like that saying. 🙂

[crickets]

13. +1

[DinahMoeHum]

5. Fuck Bolton. He's doing a strip-tease act with all of us.

All he had to/has to do is get his derriere up to Capitol Hill, under any circumstance necessary and tell Congress (and us) what he knows.

I ain't giving him a fucking cent for his book otherwise.

[Hortensis]

6. Yes, we will. The First Amendment protects it.

There's no secret info given away to other nations in this war hawk's book. If there were something, it could easily be deleted -- the way it's always done. The legalities are long, long established.

Also, Bolton wouldn't sit quiet for this. If there were no book, there'd still be him.

[ScratchCat]

7. Yeh, I'm so sick of this

Simon & Schuster have already said they are publishing the book. No court will issue an injunction or restraining order against the publisher.

[Hortensis]

9. Same here. It's a tremendous weakness.

[cbdo2007]

10. Trump can classify it all under executive privilege.

That is how he is getting away with all of this is he is saying anything he says or does is executive privilege and I'm guessing this will go to the Supreme Court to determine what is or is not executive privilege, and as the President he would be the person who would decide is executive privilege or not.

[ScratchCat]

12. That's not how it works

The book has already been cleared by the NSC and the WH has already waived "Executive Privilege" in relation to John Bolton.

[Hortensis]

14. At most he could delay publishing. Listen, we have to

understand what our power is in order to use and protect it, not see ourselves as a bunch of victims, helpless weenies before a Republican Wehrmacht. Be assured Bolton does, but all citizens of sound mind should also. It's our duty as citizens to get these traitors out of power every bit as much as it was the Republican senators' to uphold the constitution.

And for heavens' sake, connect the dots between voting and power. There are a lot more of us than them, and far more than we need to overcome the electoral college disadvantage. No more 2016s. Trumpsters are despicable, but when they win it's because they voted. Trump and Republicans in the highest offices to the lowest are practically crawling on their knees to keep their RW victims fooled but believing and turning out to vote to give them power.