A federal grand jury has indicted former National Security Advisor John Bolton on charges related to the mishandling of classified information. The indictment accuses Bolton, 76, from Bethesda, Maryland, of eight counts of transmission and ten counts of unlawful retention of national defense information (NDI).
Attorney General Pamela Bondi said, "There is one tier of justice for all Americans," emphasizing accountability for those who jeopardize national security. FBI Director Kash Patel noted that the investigation revealed Bolton allegedly used personal online accounts to transmit top-secret information and retained documents at his home in violation of federal law.
U.S. Attorney Kelly O. Hayes for the District of Maryland affirmed the commitment to holding accountable anyone endangering national security. Special Agent in Charge William J. DelBagno highlighted the duty to safeguard classified information and indicated consequences for violations.
The indictment claims Bolton transmitted NDI using personal email and messaging applications, involving documents classified up to Top Secret about future attacks and foreign-policy relations. It also alleges he retained NDI documents at home containing intelligence on adversary leaders and sources.
If convicted, Bolton faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison per count for both unlawful retention and transmission of NDI. Sentencing will be determined by a federal district court judge based on U.S. Sentencing Guidelines.
The FBI Baltimore Field Office is leading the investigation with prosecution by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Thomas Sullivan and Robert Goldaris, along with Trial Attorneys Adam P. Barry, S. Derek Shugert, and Tanner Kroeger from the National Security Division.
An indictment is an allegation; defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in court.
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