John Bolton (File photo)
Former US National Security Adviser (NSA) John Bolton, who served during Donald Trump’s first term and has since become a vocal critic, has been indicted on charges of “mishandling classified information.”Bolton, 76, who served as the 26th NSA from April 2018 to September 2019, is the latest perceived “foe” of the Trump administration to face criminal charges in recent weeks.
He also served as the US envoy to the United Nations – a post he held from August 2005 to December 2006 under George W Bush.The allegationThe veteran diplomat was charged by a federal grand jury in Maryland with 18 counts of transmitting and retaining classified information, AFP reported. The 26-page indictment alleges that Bolton emailed “top secret documents” to “two unauthorised individuals,” believed to be his wife and daughter, using a non-government email or messaging app. The materials, described as “diary-life” entries about his work as NSA, total over 1,000 pages.According to the Justice Department, the documents “revealed intelligence about future attacks, foreign adversaries, and foreign-policy relations.” Attorney general Pam Bondi said in a statement, “Anyone who abuses a position of power and jeopardises our national security will be held accountable. No one is above the law.”Bolton rejected the charges in a statement to the media, saying, “I become the latest target in weaponising the Justice Department… with charges that were declined before or distort the facts.” Trump told reporters that his former aide is a “bad guy” and added, “that’s the way it goes.”Each of the 18 counts against the ex-NSA carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison.Why Bolton became a Trump criticIn his statement, Bolton, who had been under FBI investigation and whose residence was raided in September, reflected on his time in Trump’s first administration, saying he “devoted my life to America’s foreign policy and national security and would never compromise those goals.” However, he added that he “resigned” when it become “impossible” for him to continue.Also Read | John Bolton vs Donald Trump: How the two indictments compare – A closer lookBolton also linked the indictment to his book, “The Room Where It Happened,” which was highly critical of Trump. “The retribution against me began then, continued when he tried unsuccessfully to block the publication of my book before the 2020 election, and became one of his rallying cries in his re-election campaign,” he remarked.Others facing Trump’s wrathThe indictment follows the filing of criminal charges by the Justice Department against two other prominent Trump critics -New York attorney general Letitia James and former FBI director James Comey.James, who successfully prosecuted Trump for financial fraud, was indicted by a grand jury in Virginia on October 9 on charges of bank fraud and making false statements related to a property she purchased in 2020 in Norfolk, Virginia.Comey pleaded not guilty on October 8 to charges of making false statements to Congress and obstructing a congressional proceeding.Both have rejected the charges and alleged “political retribution.” Go to Source
