Hustler magazine founder Larry Flynt is investigating allegations against John R. Bolton, the Bush administration's nominee to become the next ambassador to the United Nations.
According to a press release on Flynt's Website, court records concerning the divorce of Bolton show his first wife fled the couple's marital home when he was traveling abroad in mid-August 1982. The records further show that she took most of the couple's furniture.
Corroborated allegations that Bolton's first wife, Christina Bolton, was forced to engage in group sex have not been refuted by the State Department despite inquires posed by Flynt concerning the allegations, the report said. Flynt has obtained information from numerous sources that Bolton participated in paid visits to Plato's Retreat, the popular swingers club that operated in New York City in the late 1970s and early 1980s.
"The first Mrs. Bolton's conduct raises the presumption that she fled out of fear for her safety or, at a minimum, it demonstrates that Mr. Bolton's established inability to communicate or work respectfully with others extended to his intimate family relations," Flynt said. "The court records alone provide sufficient basis for further investigation of nominee Bolton by the Senate."
Flynt continued, "The U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations must be free of any potential source of disrepute or blackmail."
Flynt has contacted the State Department asking that they confirm or deny the allegations of Bolton's prior conduct concerning his wife and the alleged paid visits to Plato's Retreat. He has also called upon the Senate Foreign Relations Committee to conduct an inquiry into the very serious evidence concerning his first wife's fear of him.
Neither the State Department nor the Senate Foreign Relations Committee has yet responded to Flynt's inquiries.
The Hustler publisher demanded an immediate response from Bolton. Flynt has personal knowledge about sources corroborating the allegations of nominee Bolton's misconduct, and he has called upon these persons to publicly come forward with their information.
"First wife Christina Bolton has understandably remained silent on what led her to flee her husband of 10 years and to take the family belonging with hers. A full inquiry would necessarily involve meetings with Mrs. Bolton to uncover the circumstances of her flight and the Committee should subpoena her in private session," Flynt said.
Flynt indicated that he is awaiting further leads regarding Bolton's private behavior, at which point he will have more information to convey.
