Former national security adviser John Bolton, who served in the Trump administration, faced charges on Thursday for storing classified information at his residence and sharing diary-like notes with relatives that contained sensitive details from his government tenure. The 18-count indictment also highlighted a breach of classified data when individuals suspected to be linked to the Iranian regime hacked Bolton’s email account in 2021, obtaining access to the secrets he had disclosed.
According to prosecutors, a representative for Bolton informed the FBI of the email hack but failed to disclose the sharing of classified information through the account or the hackers’ possession of such data. The investigation into Bolton, who was dismissed from his position by President Trump in 2019 after more than a year of service, became public knowledge in August when law enforcement agencies conducted searches at his Maryland home and Washington, D.C., office to locate retained classified records from his government service.
The indictment, lodged in federal court in Greenbelt, Md., marks the start of a high-profile legal battle involving a seasoned figure in Republican foreign policy circles. Bolton, renowned for his assertive stances on American power, notably during his tenure as U.S. ambassador to the UN under President George W. Bush, later transitioned into a vocal critic of Trump post his initial administration.
The charges claim that Bolton misused his role as national security adviser by sharing over 1,000 pages of information concerning his daily tasks with unauthorized individuals who were relatives. Additionally, he is accused of unlawfully retaining documents, writings, and notes related to national defense, including top-secret information, at his Maryland residence.
In response, Bolton vehemently denied the accusations, attributing them to a concerted effort by Trump to intimidate his adversaries. His legal counsel emphasized that the charges stemmed from sections of Bolton’s personal diaries, which were unclassified, shared exclusively with family members, and known to the FBI since 2021.
While the investigation started during the Biden administration and predates Trump’s second term, concerns loom over the perceived politicization of the Justice Department to target opponents. This development follows separate indictments against former FBI director James Comey and New York Attorney General Letitia James, both disputing the charges leveled against them.
In contrast to the expedited appointments in the Comey and James cases under Trump’s tenure, the Bolton indictment was issued by a U.S. attorney with a background as a career prosecutor, underscoring a distinct legal proceeding. Questions surrounding Bolton’s handling of classified information trace back several years, with previous probes centering on his 2020 book, “The Room Where It Happened,” which portrayed Trump’s foreign policy acumen in a critical light.
Bolton’s legal team maintained that the book’s publication received clearance following assurances from a National Security Council official who reviewed the manuscript for classified content. The unsealed search warrant affidavit highlighted the presence of classified documents seized during the August searches, addressing matters like weapons of mass destruction and strategic communication.
The indictment signifies a pivotal juncture in Bolton’s extensive government career, spanning roles in the Justice Department and State Department before his contentious tenure as national security adviser under Trump. Despite his unwavering support for the Iraq war, Bolton’s ambassadorial nomination was thwarted, culminating in his resignation after a brief stint.
His tumultuous relationship with Trump over policy disputes culminated in his exit in 2019, marked by scathing criticisms of the president’s foreign policy tactics in his subsequent book. The fallout between the two escalated with Trump accusing Bolton of publishing highly classified information without authorization, a claim vehemently refuted by Bolton.