In a twist that’s bound to raise eyebrows and perhaps a few smirks, John Bolton, the former national security adviser under President Trump, is making headlines for all the wrong reasons. Facing 18 counts in a federal indictment, Bolton finds himself in the hot seat for allegedly mishandling classified information. This saga unfolded after a Maryland grand jury decided it was time to take action against Bolton for his enthusiastic, if not careless, retention and sharing of classified documents.
Bolton’s attorney wasted no time in coming to his defense, admitting that Bolton did indeed keep some classified documents—but who hasn’t, right? In a curious twist, Bolton is charged with sharing these top secret materials with none other than his family members through very 20th-century means like AOL and Google email accounts. It seems nostalgia for the early internet has taken a turn for the bizarre. If it wasn’t so serious, this might sound like a subplot from a slapstick comedy.
Adding to the intrigue, the Justice Department’s interest in Bolton began during the Biden administration, so accusations of political motivations are sure to be plentiful. Not to be outdone, President Trump, always ready to share his unfiltered thoughts, chimed in by labeling Bolton a “bad guy.” This term of endearment seemed to roll off the tongue quite naturally as he reflected on his former adviser’s indictment from the comfort of the Oval Office, where Bolton once roamed.
The plot thickened back in August when FBI agents raided Bolton’s Maryland home and Washington, D.C., office, searching for classified treasures. It’s almost as if Bolton forgot he was no longer standard-bearer for clandestine operations. While Bolton’s attorney insists these diary-like entries were merely the musings of an innocent public servant, the DOJ isn’t buying it. The top-secret information shared in seemingly innocuous personal diaries is at the heart of the charges.
Bolton finds himself in quite a precarious position, as he once vocally criticized others for what he now stands accused of. Hypocrisy, thy name is politics. Critics on both sides are likely to weigh in heavily on the implications of Bolton’s indictment, especially given the comparisons to similar cases that have peppered recent history. As this legal battle ensues, it serves as another chapter in the ongoing tale of Washington’s melodramas—a soap opera turned courtroom drama with potentially significant ramifications.
