Former Trump adviser John Bolton indicted over mishandling classified documents

A federal grand jury indicted former national security adviser John Bolton on charges of transmitting and retaining national defense information, bringing another criminal case against a critic of President Trump.

Bolton faces eight transmission counts and 10 retention counts.  

Prosecutors allege that, beginning in April 2018 until at least August this year, Bolton “abused his position” as national security adviser to share more than a thousand pages of information about his daily activities in the role with two unauthorized individuals. 

The information included details classified as top secret and related to the national defense, according to the indictment.

Bolton faces eight counts of each charge. He’s is the third of Trump’s adversaries to face criminal charges in recent weeks as the Justice Department follows through on the president’s vows for retribution against his foes.

“There is one tier of justice for all Americans,” Attorney General Pam Bondi said in a statement. “Anyone who abuses a position of power and jeopardizes our national security will be held accountable. No one is above the law.” 

The FBI searched Bolton’s home and office in August, and agents were seen leaving both sites with a number of boxes. Even amid the search of his home, Bolton was posting on social media his criticism about Trump’s handling of Ukraine and Russia.

Updated at 5:12 p.m. EDT