John Bolton, who previously served as national security adviser under Donald Trump and has since become a vocal critic of the president, has been indicted on federal charges. The indictment was issued by a grand jury in Maryland following a presentation by the Department of Justice, which examined evidence regarding Bolton’s handling of classified information. Bolton has publicly maintained his innocence regarding the charges against him.
In August, the FBI conducted searches of Bolton’s home and office as part of an investigation. The indictment accuses Bolton of transmitting national defense information using his personal email and messaging apps, with allegations that he revealed intelligence concerning future threats, foreign adversaries, and diplomatic relations. He is facing a total of 18 counts, including eight for the transmission of national defense information and ten for the unlawful retention of such information.
If convicted, Bolton could face substantial prison time, potentially up to 10 years for each charge. He is set to surrender to authorities soon. Bolton’s statement characterized the indictment as an act of retribution from Trump, whom he claimed is using the Justice Department against perceived enemies. His attorney, Abbe Lowell, emphasized that the charges relate to diary entries kept throughout Bolton’s lengthy public service career, which he argues do not constitute a crime. Bolton is accused of sharing classified information with family members, and records indicate that hackers associated with Iran may have gained access to his personal email account.
This indictment places Bolton in the company of other Trump critics who have faced legal challenges; he is the third such figure to be indicted in recent weeks. The broader political context includes comments from Trump urging the prosecution of his political opponents, asserting that delays harm the administration’s credibility. Bolton’s previous experiences with the administration, including his firing and controversial memoir, have drawn scrutiny in light of the indictment.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cgql2qzkz5zo?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss