John Bolton Knocks Hostage Exchange As ‘Bad Deal’ — Sets ‘Precedent’ For Innocent Americans Being Used As ‘Bargaining Chips’

Ex-Trump administration’s national security advisor John Bolton criticized the hostage exchange deal with Russia, warning that it “sets a bad precedent” for the country by involving “innocent American hostages” and would lead to “more Americans being used as bargaining chips.”

Bolton’s warning came in the wake of what is the biggest prisoner exchange between Russia and the West since the Cold War, which saw 24 prisoners exchanged in total, 16 to the West, including Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich.

The former Trump advisor appeared on CNN’s The Source With Kaitlin Collins to express his reservations as host Kaitlin Collins asked the former ambassador about former President Donald Trump’s questioning of the terms of the deal and claims Russian President Vladimir Putin wouldn’t release Gershkovich until he took office.

Bolton replied, dismissing Trump’s claims, acknowledging that everyone was “happy for the people released” but issuing his warning.

Typically unprovable. It‘s always that he will do a better job and that may or may not have proven out. I think we‘re all happy for the people released from Russian jails. But let‘s be clear, this was a bad deal. It sets a bad precedent. It violates a rule too often violated that we don‘t swap for innocent American hostages. It‘s going to lay the groundwork for more Americans being used as bargaining chips and it‘s happy for the individuals and their families, of course, but this is bad for the country you‘ve not you‘ve long held that belief. I think I know that. I think it‘s important for people to know that.

Watch above on CNN.

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