Former National Security Advisor John Bolton has been indicted on 18 felony counts for allegedly mishandling classified materials from his time in the Trump administration. The charges include 10 counts of unlawful retention and 8 counts of unauthorized transmission of national defense information. He appeared in a Maryland federal court, where he was expected to plead not guilty.
Bolton, who served under President Donald Trump from 2018 to 2019, denies all wrongdoing. In a statement, he described the charges as politically motivated and accused the Justice Department of being weaponized. He claimed the allegations rehash dismissed claims and reflect tensions with Trump, whom he has publicly criticized since leaving office.
The indictment alleges Bolton retained sensitive documents after his White House tenure and attempted to transmit classified information to unauthorized individuals. Specifics of those interactions were not publicly disclosed. The case mirrors earlier prosecutions involving high-profile figures accused of mishandling classified material.
Legal experts are divided on the charges. Some argue that applying the law equally to all officials is essential for national security. Others caution that prosecuting political figures, particularly close to an election cycle, risks eroding public trust in federal institutions. Analysts also point to the difficulty of proving intent in such cases.
Bolton, a long-standing figure in U.S. foreign policy, previously served in Republican administrations and has maintained a strong presence as a national security commentator. After leaving the Trump administration, he authored a controversial memoir that led to previous legal disputes over classified content. He remains a critic of both political extremes and continues to advocate for traditional conservative foreign policy.
The case now proceeds in federal court, with pretrial hearings expected later this year. Bolton remains free on bond and plans to challenge both the charges and the classification of the documents involved. The outcome may influence how future administrations handle sensitive information and dissent.
