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john boltonFormer National Security Advisor to the President donald trumppleaded not guilty on friday 18 cases related to misuse of classified information.
Bolton, 76, stood before Judge Timothy Sullivan in federal District Court in Greenbelt, Maryland, and declared himself “not guilty” during his initial court appearance and arraignment just before 11:30 a.m.
The former Trump adviser, sitting beside his attorney Abbey Lowell, responded that he understood the charges against him, which carry a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison on each count. If found guilty, Bolton could spend the rest of his life in prison.
Shortly afterwards, Judge Sullivan said that Bolton could be released as long as he surrendered his passport to the court, preventing him from flying out of the United States.
Bolton is a former advisor turned Trump critic. The latest person to be indicted by the Justice DepartmentWhich the President has promised to use in a retaliation campaign against his perceived enemies.
on thursday, A grand jury in Maryland Returned an 18-count indictment against Bolton, alleging that he illegally retained and shared national defense information using his personal email and a messaging app.
The indictment alleges that Bolton shared more than 1,000 pages of “diary” notes about his daily activities with family members while serving as Trump’s national security adviser in 2018 and 2019.
Former advisor has denied any wrongdoing Trump accused of “weaponizing” the DOJ “Accusing people he considers his enemies on charges that were previously denied or distorting the facts.”
Trump fired Bolton in 2019 after repeatedly clashing over foreign policy issues. Since then, the former adviser has become a vocal critic of Trump, claiming that his former boss was “unsuitable” to be president, and subscribing to it. “Anarchy as a way of life.”
When asked about Bolton’s allegations on Thursday, Trump called his former national security adviser a “bad guy.”
Although Bolton is on Alleged list of Trump’s enemiesAn investigation into Bolton’s handling of classified information began after he published his 2020 memoir.The room where it happened, which detailed her time working in the administration and was highly critical of Trump.
In June 2020, a judge determined Bolton “likely to endanger national security by disclosing classified information in violation of his nondisclosure agreement obligations” in his book. However, the following year, the Justice Department under the Biden administration closed the case.
Bolton’s attorney, Lovell, has insisted that Bolton has not broken the law. “The underlying facts of this case were investigated and resolved years ago,” Lovell said in a statement.
Lowell is also representing others recently indicted by the administration and targeted by Trump, including former FBI Director James Comey, New York Attorney General Letitia James and Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook.
While Bolton has been involved with Comey, who was also a perceived foe of Trump’s first administration, the allegations against Bolton were made differently.
Career prosecutors in Maryland investigated and following the normal process filed an 18-count indictment against Bolton. But Trump had to fire and replace a prosecutor in Virginia who had declined to bring charges against Comey, citing a lack of evidence. To get charges against the former FBI director.
Due to the complexities of handling classified documents, it is possible that Bolton’s case will take longer to go to trial.
His next court date is scheduled for Nov. 21.