John Bolton, who served in the Trump's initial term, has arrived at a US courthouse to surrender to authorities facing accusations of improperly handling sensitive documents.
The eighteen counts arise from claims that he distributed or retained sensitive materials, including some labeled as top secret.
Bolton, that separated with the administration acrimoniously, has emerged as one of the president's most vocal outspoken opponents.
The formal accusation makes Bolton, 76, the third of the US leader's rivals to be indicted in the past few days.
Court Appearance
On Friday, Bolton remained silent to reporters' inquiries as he walked into the courthouse in Greenbelt, Maryland to submit to officials.
He is anticipated to make an initial appearance before a judge and may have to visit the federal marshals' facility for "possible" printing and mugshot.
Prosecutors' Allegations
Prosecutors have charged Bolton of using private communication tools and electronic mail to wrongfully share sensitive information.
"These documents revealed intelligence about future attacks, foreign adversaries, and diplomatic ties," the indictment stated.
Addressing the allegations, Bolton said he would justify his "legal actions".
He added he had "become the latest target in weaponizing the Justice Department to accuse those he [Trump] deems to be his enemies with charges that were declined before or distort the truth."
Details of the Indictment
The formal charges filed this recently accused Bolton of sharing "diary-like entries" with two unnamed individuals, and using his private email to send messages with confidential information.
The document also claims that between 2019 and 2021, Bolton was reportedly the victim of a cyber intrusion from a "digital entity thought to be associated with the Iran" that gained access his account, revealing the sensitive documents.
Previous Scrutiny
Bolton has been scrutinised for his management of sensitive data since two years ago, when he sought to publish a book about his tenure in the first Trump administration.
The Justice Department attempted to block the publication, alleging it could include sensitive material.
A federal judge denied the administration, but criticized Bolton in his ruling, stating he had "gambled with the country's safety of the United States".
An probe into Bolton continued into the Joe Biden administration.
Legal Process
An indictment in the US legal framework is a formal accusation delivered by a public panel - a group of citizens established by a government lawyer to review proof to decide if a case should proceed.
