'Keeps me up at night': Ex-prosecutor warns of 'atmospheric damage' from latest Trump move
A former federal prosecutor revealed the "atmospheric damage" that President Donald Trump's latest move could cause if it is successful.
The Trump administration recently raided the home of his former national security advisor, John Bolton, over claims that Bolton mishandled classified information. Glenn Kirschner, a former assistant U.S. Attorney, said on a recent episode of his podcast, "Justice Matters," that Trump may be emboldened to prosecute more of his rivals if Bolton is convicted of a crime.
"Here's what keeps me up at night," Kirschner said. "Maybe he committed some actual crimes and gets prosecuted for it, as he should be. That will breathe life into every Donald Trump assertion that all of these other people on his enemies list committed crimes and need to be held accountable, even though John Bolton may be the only one."
"So I think it could do such atmospheric damage in that way that you know that is one of my main concerns if Bolton is successfully prosecuted, though he still needs to be if he committed crimes," he continued.
Kirschner noted that the troubles between Trump and Bolton over classified information go back to Trump's first administration. Bolton published a memoir about his time in the White House called "The Room Where It Happened." Trump's first administration accused Bolton of publishing classified information in the book.
Bolton's case is also similar to that of retired Gen. David Petraeus. Petraeus was charged with mishandling classified information after his memoir was published. Petraeus pleaded guilty to a single misdemeanor charge.