WASHINGTON (AP) — John Bolton is expected to surrender to authorities Friday, marking his first court appearance on charges related to allegations that the former Trump administration national security adviser stored top secret records at home and improperly shared diary-like notes containing classified information with family members.
The 18-count federal indictment filed Thursday also suggests that classified information may have been exposed due to a hack of Bolton’s email account by operatives believed to be linked to the Iranian government. Bolton’s representative informed the FBI in 2021 about the hacking, but prosecutors allege that Bolton did not disclose the details about the classified information shared via the account.
This case centers around Bolton, a notable figure in Republican foreign policy renowned for his hawkish stance on American power. He served as national security adviser for over a year before his dismissal in 2019, and later published a critical book about Trump.
Bolton claims he is a target of weaponization in the Justice Department, arguing that he is being singled out for charges that were not pursued previously and pertain to a distortion of facts.
Unlike earlier cases against political opponents of Trump, Bolton’s indictment has been described as more detailed, signed by seasoned national security prosecutors rather than a hastily appointed attorney. It has drawn attention amidst claims of selective enforcement by the Justice Department, drawing criticisms concerning the scrutiny of Trump's political adversaries versus his allies.
Sharing of Classified Secrets
The indictment alleges that between 2018 and August, Bolton shared more than 1,000 pages of confidential information regarding his activities in government with two relatives. These included entries classified at the ‘top secret’ level, which were drawn from discussions with U.S. officials, intelligence briefings, and communications with foreign leaders.
In one communication, Bolton cautioned his relatives with the words, 'None of which we talk about!!!', to which one replied, 'Shhhhh.' The government claimed that this exchange signifies an acknowledgment of the probity surrounding the information shared.
The two family members involved were not named, but reports suggest they are Bolton’s wife and daughter. The indictment also indicates Bolton was aware of the rules surrounding classified information, further complicating his defense.
Bolton’s attorney contends that the charges rely on unclassified material shared with family members, asserting that the content was previously known to the FBI as far back as 2021. He argues that keeping diaries is a typical practice and does not constitute a crime, denying any unlawful storage or sharing of information.
Controversy Over a Book
Bolton contends that these charges are a follow-up to earlier attempts by the Justice Department to prohibit the publication of his 2020 book “The Room Where It Happened.” The book critiqued Trump’s foreign policy decisions and asserted that his manuscript had been reviewed and deemed to contain no classified information by an official he had worked closely with.
In summary, the unfolding legal battle around John Bolton reflects ongoing tensions in American politics, especially concerning issues of transparency, accountability, and the determination of whether the Justice Department is acting impartially.
