Former Trump Adviser John Bolton Pleads Not Guilty To Mishandling Classified Documents | World News
Former US National Security Adviser John Bolton reportedly pleaded not guilty on Friday (local time) to federal charges related to alleged mishandling of classified information.
ANI, citing Al Jazeera, reported that Bolton appeared at the federal courthouse in Greenbelt, Maryland, where he surrendered and entered his plea.
Bolton’s indictment follows a recent wave of lawsuits targeting prominent critics of Trump after the President appointed personal attorney Lindsey Halligan as U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia.
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Who is John Bolton?
Bolton is a veteran of four Republican administrations. He previously served as Deputy Attorney General under Ronald Reagan and also served on diplomatic missions under George H. W. Bush.
He was appointed UN Ambassador by George W Bush and served as National Security Advisor to US President Donald Trump.
What Are the Accusations Against John Bolton?
Bolton faces a total of 18 charges: eight counts of transmitting national defense information and ten counts of unlawfully retaining such material.
Each charge carries a prison sentence of up to 10 years; This means Bolton could face life in prison if convicted on all charges.
As Al Jazeera reported, Bolton’s tenure in the Trump administration has attracted significant attention, with some observers suggesting the accusations may be politically motivated.
In early August, FBI agents raided Bolton’s home in Bethesda, Maryland, seizing hard drives and boxes of documents. The 26-page indictment announced on Thursday stems from this investigation.
The allegations are that Bolton “abused his position” by sharing more than a thousand pages of classified material, some of which was rated “Top Secret/SCI,” with two unauthorized individuals who were reportedly close family members. He is also accused of illegally keeping notes and records related to national defense, including handwritten diary-like records that were later transcribed and shared electronically.
According to ANI, the indictment also alleges that Bolton was targeted by a hacker linked to the Iranian government, who may have accessed some sensitive material in his possession.
Following the hearing, Bolton was released and is scheduled to appear in court again on November 21.
