Pompeo says Bolton's release of information 'puts criminal liability squarely on him'

Secretary of State Mike Pomepeo during an interview with Fox News Channel's Sean Hannity excoriated John Bolton on the eve of the former national security adviser's Tuesday book release, suggesting that Bolton could face criminal consequences for the material published in his book.

"And frankly the information he has released puts criminal liability squarely on him," Pompeo said.

The Secretary of State mentioned the leaking of classified material by Edward Snowden. "What John Bolton did here is not dissimilar from that and while we'll leave open for the Justice Department to take its action, this kind of information getting out presents real risk and real harm to the United States of America." 

Pompeo said that the parts of the book he has seen are riddled with "falsehoods" and "lies." He also said that contrary to the title of the book, "The Room Where It Happened," Bolton was excluded from some meetings.

"The president and others, myself included, had to cut him out of meetings because he was leaking or he'd twist things or he'd lie," Pompeo said. "It was a really difficult situation where John Bolton thought he was more important than the president of the United States and the American people."