US National Security Advisor John Bolton
Former US National Security Advisor John Bolton. Image Credit: AFP

The United States on Tuesday sued former national security advisor John Bolton, seeking to block him from publishing a book about his time in the White House that it said contained classified information and would compromise national security.

The civil lawsuit came one day after US President Donald Trump said Bolton would be breaking the law if the book were published.

Trump fired Bolton last September after roughly 17 months as national security advisor.