John Bolton, Donald Trump's former national security adviser, has arrived at a federal court to surrender to authorities on charges of mishandling classified information.
The 18 charges stem from allegations he shared or retained sensitive materials, including some characterised as top secret.
Bolton served during Trump's first administration but parted with the White House contentiously, becoming one of the president's most vocal public critics.
The indictment makes Bolton, 76, the third of Trump's political opponents to face charges in recent weeks. Bolton has stated that he will defend his lawful conduct.
On Friday, Bolton did not respond to reporters as he entered the courthouse in Greenbelt, Maryland. He is expected to make an initial appearance before a judge, and may undergo fingerprinting and a booking photo.
Prosecutors accuse Bolton of illegally transmitting sensitive information using personal messaging apps and email. They assert that these documents revealed intelligence about future attacks, foreign adversaries, and foreign policy relations.
Bolton defended himself against the charges by stating that he would fight to prove his lawful behavior. He also highlighted that he has become a target of what he describes as the politicization of the Justice Department against those labeled as Trump's enemies.
The indictment includes claims that Bolton shared diary-like entries with two unnamed individuals and utilized his personal email account for sensitive communications. Additionally, reports indicate that Bolton was targeted by a hacking attempt linked to Iran, which exposed classified materials.
Bolton's conduct regarding classified information has been under scrutiny since 2020 when he pursued a book publication focused on his experiences in the Trump administration, which led to a legal battle with the Justice Department. A federal judge ruled against the government's attempts to block the book but criticized Bolton's handling of national security matters.
