Former national security adviser John Bolton, who was indicted on Thursday, claims that he has become the “latest target” of President Trump’s attempts to use the Department of Justice (DOJ) for political gain.
Bolton, who initially served under Trump and later became a vocal critic, was indicted by a federal grand jury on eight counts of transmitting and ten counts of retaining national security information.
In his statement, Bolton expressed that this indictment is part of Trump’s broader strategy to wield the DOJ against perceived enemies. He remarked, “The charges were dismissed beforehand and the facts were misrepresented, making him an enemy of mine.”
Prosecutors allege that from April 2018 to at least August of this year, Bolton “abused his position” as national security adviser by sharing extensive daily activity information with two family members who lacked security clearance. According to reports, these relatives were his wife and daughter.
It’s claimed that he transmitted this information in the form of “diary-like entries” using non-governmental messaging apps and personal email accounts.
The investigation into Bolton’s activities commenced during the Biden administration and intensified after Trump regained influence in January. Search warrants were executed at Bolton’s home and office in August. A subsequent affidavit indicated that authorities suspected Bolton of mismanaging national defense information pertaining to his memoir, “The Room Where It Happened.”
Bolton noted in his statement that the Trump administration had attempted to block his book’s publication, asserting that it was properly “reviewed and approved by appropriate and experienced career clearance officials.”
Additionally, the indictment suggests that in July 2021, Bolton’s representatives informed the FBI that one of his personal accounts had been hacked by Iran. However, it was not specified that classified information had been shared through this account or that the hackers accessed any government secrets.
Bolton, however, emphasized that the FBI was “fully aware” of the hacking situation, pointing out that “during the four years of the previous administration, there were never any charges filed after these investigations.”
Two other individuals frequently targeted by Trump, New York Attorney General Letitia James and former FBI Director James Comey, were also indicted in federal court in Virginia in recent weeks.
If found guilty, Bolton could face up to ten years in prison for each of the 18 charges against him.
Bolton added, “These accusations are not just a matter of [Trump’s] focus on me and my diary; it’s an effort to intimidate opponents and control the narrative about their actions.” He believes that dissent is a fundamental aspect of the American constitutional system essential to maintaining freedoms.
“I look forward to the fight to defend my lawful conduct and expose his abuse of power,” Bolton concluded.
