18 Charges Against John Bolton in the Classified Documents Case .. and the Accusations Target Trump
In a new controversial legal escalation, former U.S. National Security Advisor John Bolton denied committing any violations related to the classified documents case, after he was charged with 18 counts concerning the storage and sharing of highly classified information, some of which may have been leaked following a cyber breach of his account.
In an official statement issued yesterday, Bolton accused President Donald Trump's administration of using the Department of Justice as a "political weapon" to target his opponents, indicating that the charges against him are part of an "intensive effort to intimidate political adversaries".
* Details of the Charges: Memos and Sensitive Information
The charges against Bolton, who served as National Security Advisor during Trump's first term before becoming a vocal critic, relate to storing highly classified records at his home and sharing notes resembling memos about his time in government with family members.
The prosecution claims that these notes contain classified information that was shared outside the official framework, which constitutes a violation of the law.
The indictment reveals that sensitive information was exposed after agents believed to be linked to the Iranian regime hacked Bolton's email in 2021, gaining access to content containing government data.
Notably, a representative for Bolton informed the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) about the hacking incident, but did not disclose that the hacked messages contained classified information or that the hackers had obtained sensitive government documents.
* Bolton Responds: The Charges Are Old and Fabricated
In his response, Bolton emphasized that this case "has been investigated previously and was resolved years ago".
His lawyer, Abby Lowell, stated in a separate statement:
"The fundamental facts in this case are not new, and Ambassador Bolton did not violate any laws. What has been discussed are merely personal memos he wrote during his career spanning over 45 years, which he kept private and shared only with his family".
Lowell confirmed that the FBI had been aware of these memos since 2021, and they were not considered a security breach at that time.
He added:
"Like many public officials, Bolton kept private memos, and this is not a crime. We will once again prove his complete innocence of any charges of storing or leaking classified information".
* Concerns About Politicizing the Judiciary
These charges come amid a series of legal actions targeting prominent Trump opponents recently, raising increasing questions about the potential use of the Department of Justice to pursue political adversaries.
Bolton is the third Trump opponent to face criminal charges in recent weeks, following accusations against:
Former FBI Director James Comey for lying to Congress,
and New York Attorney General Letitia James for bank fraud and providing false information.
All of them deny the charges against them and consider them politically motivated.
* Background of the Case and Its Timing
It is worth noting that the investigation into Bolton's case began before Trump took office again in January 2025, but the case became public in August when FBI agents executed searches at Bolton's home in Maryland and his office in Washington for evidence.
Observers believe that the timing of the case's revelation carries political implications, especially since Bolton is considered one of the prominent hawks of foreign policy in the Republican Party and one of the figures who turned against Trump after he left office in 2021.
