Former Trump aide John Bolton indicted on national security charges

John Bolton, former national security adviser for President Donald Trump, has been indicted in Maryland on 18 counts of retaining and transmitting national defense information to family.

Prosecutors allege that Bolton kept and shared over a thousand pages of digital diaries containing classified and top-secret material, some of which he allegedly emailed to family members using personal email accounts.

The legal proceedings stem from a 2022 criminal investigation that began after Iran hacked Bolton’s emails. 

Bolton claims to be targeted by Trump’s Justice Department and insists the case is politically motivated, citing that the Biden administration had not charged him until Trump’s return to power.

The case will be heard by Judge Theodore Chuang, appointed by Barack Obama. Bolton is expected to surrender by Friday.