Written by: James Charles a reporter and journalist
John Bolton’s Legal Troubles
John Bolton, former national security adviser to Donald Trump, surrendered to authorities on Friday. He faces charges for mishandling classified information and was due in court later that day.
Charges Filed
The Justice Department filed federal charges against Bolton in Maryland on Thursday. He is accused of sharing and keeping highly classified information under the Espionage Act.
Indictment Details
A grand jury in Maryland issued an 18-count indictment on Thursday. Bolton allegedly sent diary entries to two unnamed individuals about his work as national security adviser. Many of these entries contained classified details.
- This indictment is the third time the Justice Department has charged a critic of Trump in recent weeks.
Trump’s Reaction
When reporters asked about the charges, Trump said he was unaware but called Bolton a “bad guy.”
Bolton left the White House on bad terms. The criminal investigation gained momentum during the Biden administration, troubling the US intelligence community.
Espionage Act Factors
The Justice Department pursues Espionage Act cases based on “aggregating factors.” These factors include:
- Willful mishandling of classified information
- Signs of disloyalty to the US
Detailed Notes
The indictment noted:
“Bolton took detailed notes of his day-to-day meetings and briefings. He often handwrote these notes on yellow notepads at the White House or in secure locations, later rewriting them in a word processing document.”
- Bolton sent these notes to Individuals 1 and 2 using personal email and messaging accounts.
- They detailed his daily activities as National Security Adviser, often describing the secure settings where he learned classified information.
Bolton’s Statement
In a statement, Bolton said, “I look forward to the fight to defend my lawful conduct and expose his abuse of power.”
Bolton’s lawyer, Abbe Lowell, stated that his client did not do anything wrong. He said:
“These charges come from parts of Ambassador Bolton’s personal diaries over his 45-year career. These records are unclassified, shared only with his family, and known to the FBI since 2021. Like many public officials, Ambassador Bolton kept diaries — that is not a crime.”
