• John Bolton pleaded not guilty to 18 counts of mishandling classified information.
• The indictment alleges he shared top-secret documents with family members for a book.
• Bolton is the third major Trump critic to face charges recently.
• The Justice Department's case against Bolton is viewed as stronger than those against James Comey and Letitia James.
• Each charge against Bolton carries a maximum sentence of up to 10 years in prison.

Former National Security Adviser John Bolton surrendered to authorities and entered a not guilty plea on charges of mishandling classified information. The indictment, filed in federal court in Maryland, alleges Bolton transmitted and retained national defense information without authorization, allegedly sharing sensitive materials with his wife and daughter, purportedly for a book he was writing. Each of the eighteen counts carries a potential penalty of up to 10 years in prison. Bolton's lawyer stated that he did not unlawfully share or store any classified information, according to India Times.

The case against Bolton comes amid a series of legal actions against prominent critics of Donald Trump, including former FBI Director James Comey and New York Attorney General Letitia James. Critics argue that these charges represent a campaign of political retribution orchestrated by Trump. In his statement, Bolton argued that he has become a target of weaponization of the Justice Department, stating, “Now, I have become the latest target in weaponising the Justice Department to charge those he deems to be his enemies with charges that were declined before or distort the facts,” as reported by Al Jazeera and Channel News Asia.

Bolton, who served as national security adviser from 2018 to 2019 and became a vocal critic of Trump, argues that the indictment is politically motivated and reflects the administration's desire to retaliate against its opponents. Legal experts note that the investigation into Bolton began in 2022, well before Trump’s return to office, which adds complexity to his defense compared to that of Comey and James, according to Reuters and India Times.

The indictment explicitly details that Bolton shared over 1,000 pages of classified information categorized at the top-secret level. The Justice Department noted that this included sensitive details about foreign policy and national security interests. Bolton's defense may hinge on demonstrating that the information shared was not classified or was already unclassified and known to the FBI as far back as 2021, as highlighted by his legal counsel, according to BBC.

The implications of this indictment extend beyond personal legal challenges, raising questions about the integrity of U.S. political and judicial systems amid allegations of weaponization of the Justice Department for political purposes. Donald Trump has publicly labeled Bolton a "bad guy" in response to the indictment, reinforcing the political tension surrounding this high-profile case, noted by India Times.