Former national security adviser John Bolton from the Trump administration faced charges on Thursday for storing classified records at his residence and sharing diary-like notes with family members containing classified information. The 18-count indictment implied that classified content was exposed when individuals connected to the Iranian regime hacked Bolton’s email account in 2021, gaining access to shared secrets.
A representative for Bolton informed the FBI about the email hacking incident, but failed to disclose the sharing of classified information through the account or the hackers’ possession of such information. The investigation into Bolton, who served in President Donald Trump’s initial administration for over a year before dismissal in 2019, became public in August with FBI raids at his Maryland home and Washington, D.C. office in search of retained classified government records.
The indictment, filed in a federal court in Greenbelt, Md., sets the scene for a highly anticipated court battle involving a prominent figure in Republican foreign policy circles known for his strong stance on American power, notably during his tenure as U.S. ambassador to the UN under President George W. Bush. Post his departure from the Trump administration, Bolton became a vocal critic of the president.
The indictment accuses Bolton of misusing his position as national security adviser by sharing over 1,000 pages of information regarding his daily work with unauthorized relatives. He is also charged with unlawfully keeping at his Maryland home documents related to national defense, some classified as top secret.
In response to the charges, Bolton released a statement on Thursday, vehemently denying them and attributing them to a concerted effort by Trump to intimidate his adversaries. His lawyer emphasized that the charges stemmed from his client’s personal diaries, deemed unclassified and solely shared with immediate family members and acknowledged by the FBI since 2021.
Although the investigation leading to the indictment commenced during the Biden administration and predates Trump’s second term, concerns persist that the Justice Department is being exploited to target political opponents. This development follows recent indictments against former FBI director James Comey and New York Attorney General Letitia James, both refuting the allegations against them.
Contrary to the rushed appointments in the aforementioned cases, the Bolton indictment was filed by a U.S. attorney in Maryland with prior experience as a career prosecutor. Questions surrounding Bolton’s handling of classified information stretch back years, including a Justice Department investigation related to his 2020 book, “The Room Where It Happened,” which depicted Trump as ill-informed on foreign policy.
Allegations arose that Bolton’s book contained classified data threatening national security, but his lawyers contend that after clearance by a National Security Council official, it was devoid of classified content. Documents seized during the August search included records labeled as classified, confidential, and secret, mentioning topics like weapons of mass destruction and U.S. communication strategies.
The indictment marks a significant juncture in Bolton’s extensive government career, spanning roles in the Reagan administration’s Justice Department and as the State Department’s arms control lead during Bush’s presidency. Despite being nominated as the U.S. ambassador to the UN by Bush, Senate confirmation eluded him, leading to his resignation after a brief tenure.
Bolton’s tenure as Trump’s third national security adviser was tumultuous, marked by disagreements with the president over various international issues, culminating in his resignation in 2019. His subsequent criticism of Trump’s foreign policy approach in his 2020 book drew sharp rebuke from the president, who accused Bolton of sharing highly classified information without authorization.