Former National Security Adviser John Bolton has been indicted on 18 counts, accused of illegally possessing and disseminating classified defense documents. The charges stem from allegations that Bolton kept top-secret records at his residence and shared sensitive information, including diary entries detailing his tenure in the Trump administration. Prosecutors revealed that hackers, believed to be associated with Iran, gained access to Bolton’s email account, potentially compromising classified government secrets. In 2021, a representative informed the FBI about the email hack, but allegedly failed to disclose the exposure of classified data or the possible possession of state secrets by the hackers. This legal action against Bolton, a prominent Republican foreign policy hawk and former Trump appointee turned critic, is politically charged. It arrives amid broader concerns that the Justice Department is targeting political opponents of Donald Trump. Bolton has publicly rejected the charges, asserting that his indictment is a politically motivated act by Trump to target enemies. He criticized the Justice Department’s use as a political instrument. The indictment was brought by seasoned national security prosecutors, differentiating it from cases handled by politically appointed US attorneys. An FBI search of Bolton’s properties in August drew attention, but the investigation was ongoing prior to this. The indictment further alleges that Bolton shared more than 1,000 pages of classified information with two relatives between 2018 and August of this year. These materials reportedly included intelligence on foreign adversaries, US sources, collection methods, and details of covert operations and missile launch plans. The Justice Department has asserted a commitment to equal justice, vowing to hold accountable anyone who jeopardizes national security. Bolton’s legal team may argue that the prosecution overlooks past instances of classified information handling by other officials, potentially citing the use of secure messaging apps for military discussions without subsequent investigation.
