Several readers have done some research on Matthew Freedman and his relationship to John Bolton’s office.
I am not going to analyze these references, but just post them for those looking into the question of what sort of “management counsel” Mr. Freedman provided Mr. Bolton.
First, a staff directory listing Matthew Freedman in Bolton’s office:
Office of the Under Secretary for Arms Control and International Security (T)
Under Secretary of State John R. Bolton 7208 202-647-1049
Personal Assistant Janice Neal 7208 202-647-1522
Senior Adviser James Timbie 7208 202-647-4404
Senior Adviser Frederick Fleitz 7208 202-647-1749
Special Adviser Matthew C. Freedman 7208 202-647-0062
Regarding a listed campaign contribution in 1998, it shows that Freedman once supported John McCain:
Freedman, Matthew C, Alexandria, Va 22314, Davis Manafort & Freedman
~ McCain, John S (R) Senate AZ $250 General 09/28/98
Freedman attended a major nonproliferation conference with Bolton and Fleitz:
Attended May 2004 Preparatory Committee for 2005 Review of Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Nonproliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NYC session)
Advisers listed for Head of Delegation (Bolton) included:
Frederick Fleitz, Senior Adviser, Office of the Under Secretary for Arms Control and International Security, Department of State
Matthew C. Freedman, Special Adviser to the Under Secretary, Department of State
Previously, Freedman worked for Black, Manafort, Stone & Kelly. Here is a tidbit about the firm, John Bolton and Melody Townsel during the time that Matthew Freedman was working there.
1998 Black, Manafort, Stone & Kelly
John Bolton — lawyer for Black, Manafort, Stone & Kelly. Firm hired Melody Townsel’s company to publicize privatization projects in Central Asia. [After Townsel criticized competence of her employers, Black, Manafort, Stone & Kelly, they hired John Bolton as legal counsel to represent them to US AID.]
Some have written that Freedman is competent in non-proliferation questions, but the question is why was Bolton staffing with someone like this who was not State Department staff. Maybe it’s a regular practice — but I think questions persist.
— Steve Clemons
(ed. note: Thanks to CG for sleuthing.)
