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President Trump’s former National Security Adviser has pled not guilty after being indicted by a grand jury.

Some shit you should know before you dig in: If you’re unaware, John Bolton previously served as President Trump’s National Security Adviser from April 2018 until September 2019, when their relationship went to shit following policy disagreements. Known for his aggressive stance on national security and advocacy for US military strength, Bolton initially aligned with Trump’s “America First” rhetoric but grew increasingly frustrated with what he later described as the president’s impulsive and uninformed decision-making. After his departure, he became one of Trump’s most outspoken critics.

What’s going on now: While attending court today, Bolton pled not guilty to an 18-count federal indictment accusing him of mishandling highly classified national defense information. The charges (eight counts of unauthorized transmission and ten counts of unlawful retention of national defense materials) stem from allegations that Bolton shared over a thousand pages of sensitive, diary-style notes documenting internal White House affairs, intelligence on foreign adversaries, and other top-secret briefings. Prosecutors claim he sent these materials to two unnamed relatives, believed to be his wife and daughter, using unsecured personal email and messaging apps, despite their lack of security clearance.

The indictment further alleges that these transmissions occurred while Bolton was still serving as national security adviser, and that he continued to store classified materials in his home after leaving office.

Federal authorities also say the situation escalated in severity when a foreign cyber actor allegedly hacked Bolton’s personal email accounts (believed to be associated with the Iranian government).

Bolton, now 76, has denied any wrongdoing. In a public statement, he called the charges politically motivated and described them as an extension of President Trump’s long-standing efforts to “retaliate” against political opponents. His attorney, Abbe Lowell, argued that the Justice Department had already reviewed and closed the matter years ago, claiming that the notes in question were personal records that were never classified and were shared only with immediate family. Lowell added that the FBI has known about these materials since at least 2021.

Each of the 18 felony counts Bolton faces carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine, placing him at risk of up to 180 years behind bars if convicted on all counts.