Washington, USA-Events are accelerating in the US capital in the case against John Bolton, former national security adviser to US President Donald Trump.
He surrendered himself to federal authorities on Friday to face 18 criminal charges related to mishandling sensitive classified information, some of which is classified at the highest level of secrecy.
Intelligence documents
According to the indictment, John Bolton is suspected of retaining or sharing documents,
and correspondence relating to sensitive intelligence information.
Including data on potential attacks, foreign parties, and confidential diplomatic relations.
Investigations indicate that he used personal messaging apps and private email to transmit this information outside official channels.
Maryland Court
Bolton,76 years old, entered the federal district court in Greenbelt, Maryland,
on Friday morning without answering questions from reporters who had gathered outside the building.
He is expected to appear before a judge at a preliminary hearing, where he will likely be fingerprinted and photographed at the US Marshals Service headquarters.
This is according to CBS, the BBC’s partner network in the United States.
Bolton defends himself
In response to the accusations, Bolton said he would defend himself,
asserting that everything he did was within a “legitimate legal framework.”
He added in a statement: “I have become the latest target in the Justice Department’s politicization campaign.
Trump uses these to punish those he considers his enemies,
through accusations that have already been dismissed or by distorting the facts.
Background to the case
The roots of the case date back to 2020, when Bolton attempted to publish his controversial book about his time in Trump’s first administration.
At that time, the US Department of Justice sought to prevent the publication of the book on the grounds that it contained classified information.
However, the court allowed it to be released despite the judge reprimanding Bolton,
saying he had “gambled with the national security of the United States.”
The investigations continued, and the current indictment
included the sharing of “personal memos” and sensitive correspondence with two unknown individuals.
And that his electronic account was hacked by a party believed to be linked to Iran between 2019 and 2021.
Third exhibition for Trump
With these charges, Bolton has become the third Trump opponent to face criminal prosecution in recent weeks.
This comes at a time when observers believe that the US political scene is witnessing
a mutual judicial escalation between Trump’s supporters and opponents ahead of the upcoming elections.
