Ex-Trump Adviser John Bolton Charged with Mishandling Classified Information

Greenbelt, Md. — John Bolton, former National Security Adviser under President Donald Trump, has been charged with storing and sharing highly classified government materials—a serious breach of national security.

The indictment accuses Bolton of keeping top-secret documents at his home and sharing sensitive diary-like notes with family members. Some of these documents were reportedly accessed by Iranian-linked hackers.

Bolton has denied wrongdoing, claiming the case is politically motivated. However, career prosecutors emphasized that no one is above the law, sending a clear message about accountability—even for high-profile former officials.

The materials allegedly involved intelligence on foreign adversaries, missile programs, and U.S. covert operations. Bolton’s lawyers argue his diaries contained no unlawful information, but the investigation highlights the risks of leaking national security secrets—especially from someone who publicly criticized the president.

Bolton’s relationship with Trump ended in a public fallout over foreign policy, culminating in his critical 2020 book, “The Room Where It Happened”, which described Trump as “grossly uninformed”—a portrayal widely contested.

If convicted, Bolton could face severe penalties, underscoring that Trump-era critics are not above the law when it comes to national security.

(AP)