Bolton prosecution sparks debate over Espionage Act use against officials

In the days following Bolton's arraignment, legal scholars, former officials, and press freedom advocates publicly debated whether the Espionage Act was being applied selectively by the Trump DOJ. Critics noted that Bolton's prosecution came as his book "The Room Where It Happened" had previously been reviewed by the NSC and cleared for publication despite containing material later deemed classified. Several former officials warned that the case could deter senior government employees from keeping personal records of their time in office.