Donald Trump's former national security adviser, John Bolton, has been indicted over the alleged mishandling of classified information.
The Department of Justice (DoJ) confirmed a federal grand jury had returned an indictment today.
It said Mr Bolton had been charged with "serious crimes related to the mishandling of classified information" including eight counts of transmission of national defence information (NDI) and 10 counts of unlawful retention of NDI.
The ex-security adviser is alleged to have "illegally transmitted NDI by using personal email and messaging application accounts to send sensitive documents classified as high as Top Secret", the DoJ said.
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The indictment alleges that Mr Bolton illegally retained NDI documents within his home.
The DoJ stated: "These documents included intelligence on an adversary’s leaders as well as information revealing sources and collections used to obtain statements on a foreign adversary."
If convicted, Mr Bolton could face a maximum prison sentence of 10 years for each charge.
FBI Director Kash Patel said: "The FBI’s investigation revealed that John Bolton allegedly transmitted top secret information using personal online accounts and retained said documents in his house in direct violation of federal law.
John Bolton could face years in prison if he is convicted, according to the Department of Justice
| REUTERS
"The case was based on meticulous work from dedicated career professionals at the FBI who followed the facts without fear or favour.
"Weaponisation of justice will not be tolerated, and this FBI will stop at nothing to bring to justice anyone who threatens our national security."
Court documents made public last month revealed Mr Bolton was under federal investigation for potential mishandling of classified information.
A lawyer for the ex-security adviser has previously denied he engaged in wrongdoing.
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The FBI was seen leaving John Bolton's home last month
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US Attorney Kelly O Hayes for the District of Maryland said: "Keeping Americans safe always has been, and always will be, the top priority for the US Attorney’s Office for the District of Maryland.
"If anyone endangers our national security, we’re committed to holding them accountable."
Reacting to the news of his indictment, Donald Trump told CNN: “I didn’t know that—you’re telling for the first time, but I think he’s, you know, a bad person. I think he’s a bad guy."
Mr Bolton served as US Ambassador to the United Nations as well as White House national security adviser during Mr Trump's first term before emerging as one of the president's most vocal critics.
Ben Leo asks John Bolton if he feels he is being targeted by Donald Trump
He described Mr Trump as unfit to be president in a memoir he released last year.
The charges against Mr Bolton come shortly after the Justice Department indicted former FBI director James Comey, who investigated Mr Trump's 2016 presidential campaign, and New York Attorney General Letitia James, who previously brought a civil fraud case against the President and his family real estate company.
Mr Comey, whom the president fired in 2017, is facing charges of making false statements to Congress and obstruction of Congress. He has pleaded not guilty.
Ms James is facing charges of bank fraud and making false statements to a financial institution. She has denied wrongdoing and is slated to appear in federal court later this month.
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