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CHRISTIANE AMANPOUR: So, look, let me ask you, look, John Bolton is even controversial amongst all of those who are controversial for his foreign policy stance as we know. He’s the hawks hawk. Is this a score settling or is this a truth telling account, do you think? What do you think the purpose is having read his account?
JIM SCIUTTO, CNN, CHIEF U.S. SECURITY CORRESPONDENT: Well, listen, it’s a first-hand account from a senior official, who is appointed by this president and chose to accept that job. And by the way, not at the beginning of the administration when you could argue, perhaps you don’t know how President Trump will govern but well into the administration. So, John Bolton knew what he was getting into and the president knew and his advisers knew who John Bolton was when the president appointed him to this very senior position. Beyond that, he’s lifelong Republican, he’s a Fox News contributor. I mean, it’s difficult to look at his resume and attack him the way President Trump and his loyalists have attacked everyone else who has come to criticize him or contradict the president’s message. It seems that the only qualifier for being dismissed by this president and doped is one of his favorite terms but is a liar, is not contradicting the president. Because remember, a whole host of people have been dismissed in similar ways. Jim Mattis was one of his generals, appointed as defense secretary until he described him in effect as unfit for office. Mitt Romney, the president considered him for secretary of state until he then dismissed him. Gordon Sondland, in the Ukraine, impeachment inquiry, Trump appointee, million-dollar donor to his inauguration until he testified under oath that there was a quid pro quo. So, John Bolton, his character has been around Washington as you well know for years. He’s made a lot of enemies here. He’s certainly very focused on his own public profile. That said, he claims and took notes, by the way, contemporaneous notes of what he says were alarming instances of this president’s decisions and decision making.
About This Episode EXPAND
Christiane and CNN correspondent Jim Sciutto discuss John Bolton’s forthcoming memoir, “The Room Where It Happens.” Gabriela Jauregui and journalist Farnaz Fassihi shed light on the rise of domestic abuse in areas under lockdown. Epidemiologist Dr. Larry Brilliant joins Walter Isaacson to explain what’s going wrong at the CDC.
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