Former National Security Advisor John Bolton has been indicted on 18 felony counts related to mishandling classified information, including 10 counts of unlawful retention and eight of unauthorized transmission of national defense materials. The indictment stems from actions taken during and after his time in the Trump administration. Bolton surrendered at a Maryland courthouse and pled not guilty.

Bolton argues the charges are politically motivated, calling them part of a broader trend of weaponizing the Justice Department. He stated that the indictment reflects former President Trump’s pattern of targeting political opponents. Bolton believes his case is not just legal, but emblematic of a concerning shift toward political retaliation using federal power.

This indictment follows a previous civil case over Bolton’s 2020 memoir, The Room Where It Happened. The Justice Department claimed Bolton violated pre-publication procedures by releasing potentially classified material. Although a federal judge allowed the book’s release, he also ruled that Bolton likely exposed classified information and faced possible liability.

The indictment details Bolton’s alleged sharing of classified national defense information with unauthorized individuals, including intelligence on foreign threats, covert operations, and sensitive collection methods. Additionally, it accuses him of improperly storing classified documents at his Maryland home.

Bolton insists he followed proper clearance protocols and informed the FBI of a 2021 hacking incident, which he says the agency acknowledged. He claims that no charges were filed during Trump’s presidency, raising questions about the timing and intent of the current prosecution.