Washington, October 18 (Udaipur Kiran): Former US National Security Adviser John Bolton, a vocal critic of former President Donald Trump, was released on bail by the Greenbelt Courthouse in Maryland on Friday after being indicted on serious charges of mishandling classified information.
The 76-year-old Bolton appeared before the court and pleaded not guilty to 18 counts related to transmitting and retaining highly classified national defence information. Judge Timothy Sullivan granted him release on a personal bond and scheduled the next hearing for November 21.
According to The New York Times, Bolton surrendered to authorities earlier in the day before his court appearance. The indictment alleges that he shared confidential files via email with two unauthorized individuals during his tenure as Trump’s national security adviser.
Bolton did not speak to reporters after the hearing but, in a statement released on Thursday, he rejected all charges, saying he had become “the latest target of a weaponized Justice Department.”
The indictment against Bolton follows similar criminal proceedings in recent weeks against other prominent Trump critics, including former FBI Director James Comey and New York Attorney General Letitia James.
Letitia James, 66, faces bank fraud and false statement charges linked to a property purchase in Norfolk, Virginia, in 2020, while Comey, 64, has been charged with making false statements to Congress and obstructing congressional proceedings.
Trump, reacting to the developments, told reporters on Thursday that he was unaware of the charges but described Bolton as a “bad man.” Earlier this year, Trump had revoked Bolton’s security clearance shortly after taking office, citing “trust issues.”
Bolton, who served as National Security Adviser from 2018 to 2019, became one of Trump’s fiercest critics after leaving the administration. His memoir, The Room Where It Happened, painted an unflattering picture of the former president, claiming he was “unfit for office.”
Since January, Trump has intensified his campaign against political opponents, calling for legal action against several figures, including Bolton.
Bhupendra Singh Chundawat is a seasoned technology journalist with over 22 years of experience in the media industry. He specializes in covering the global technology landscape, with a deep focus on manufacturing trends and the geopolitical impact on tech companies. Currently serving as the Editor at Udaipur Kiran, his insights are shaped by decades of hands-on reporting and editorial leadership in the fast-evolving world of technology.
