John Bolton, former National Security Adviser under President Donald Trump, faces an 18-count indictment for unlawfully retaining top-secret defense documents and sharing classified material. Prosecutors allege that Bolton improperly stored sensitive records at his home and disclosed classified information through diary-like notes detailing his government service. The indictment also reveals a potential security breach, where hackers linked to Iran accessed Bolton’s email account, potentially exposing classified files. A representative for Bolton informed the FBI in 2021 about the email hack but allegedly omitted the crucial detail that classified information had been compromised. This development marks a significant legal challenge for the hawkish foreign policy figure, who became a vocal critic of Trump after his dismissal. The case adds to a series of indictments against critics of the former president, raising concerns about the Justice Department’s impartiality. Bolton has vehemently denied the charges, accusing Trump of weaponizing the Justice Department against his political adversaries. Unlike some previous high-profile cases, Bolton’s indictment was brought by career national security prosecutors. The investigation reportedly began before Trump’s second term, with searches of Bolton’s Maryland home and Washington office occurring in August. The charges detail allegations of Bolton sharing over 1,000 pages of classified material with two relatives between 2018 and August of the current year. These documents reportedly included highly sensitive intelligence briefings and notes on meetings with foreign leaders, containing details on US sources, collection methods, and adversary plans. The Justice Department has stated that no one is above the law, emphasizing accountability for those who jeopardize national security. Bolton’s defense is expected to highlight perceived double standards, potentially referencing the use of encrypted apps by other administration officials for sensitive discussions, which the Justice Department did not investigate.
