John Bolton, Donald Trump's former national security adviser, has pleaded not guilty to charges of mishandling classified information.
The 18 charges stem from allegations he shared or retained sensitive materials, including some characterised as top secret. He entered the plea after surrendering to authorities at a federal court hearing on Friday.
Bolton served during Trump's first administration but parted with the White House contentiously, and has become one of the president's most vocal public critics.
The indictment makes Bolton, 76, the third of the US president's political opponents to face charges in recent weeks. Bolton has said he would defend his lawful conduct.
Bolton, wearing a dark blue suit and maroon tie, did not speak with reporters as he arrived at the courthouse in Greenbelt, Maryland. Not guilty, your honor, Bolton, 76, said in court. He was released on his own recognisance and a hearing in the case is scheduled for 21 November.
Prosecutors have accused Bolton of using personal messaging apps and email to illegally transmit sensitive information. These documents revealed intelligence about future attacks, foreign adversaries, and foreign-policy relations, prosecutors wrote.
Bolton has asserted that he has become the latest target in weaponizing the Justice Department to charge those he [Trump] deems to be his enemies with allegations that were declined before or distort the facts.
The indictment also states that between 2019 and 2021, Bolton was allegedly the target of a hacking attack from a cyber actor believed to be associated with the Islamic Republic of Iran that gained access to his account, exposing the classified materials.
His attorney noted that like many public officials, Bolton kept diaries, which is not a crime. The records in question were described as unclassified, shared only with his immediate family, and known to the FBI as far back as 2021.
Bolton's legal troubles began intensifying since he published his book about his time in the first Trump administration. The Justice Department had attempted to block its release, arguing it could contain classified information. A federal judge ruled against the government but rebuked Bolton for gambling with national security.
Trump has frequently criticized Bolton, labeling him a "lowlife who should be in jail" and accusing him of releasing classified information in his memoir. The recent indictment follows similar actions against other political figures opposing Trump.
