Former Trump Adviser John Bolton Indicted

WASHINGTON, Oct. 17 (Bernama-dpa) -- Former US national security adviser John Bolton, one of President Donald Trump's fiercest critics, has been charged with mishandling classified defence information, German Press Agency (dpa) reported.

Bolton is accused of transmitting and unlawfully retaining top-secret documents, the Justice Department said Thursday. A grand jury issued the indictment.

"Anyone who abuses a position of power and jeopardises our national security will be held accountable," US Attorney General Pam Bondi said in a statement. "No one is above the law."

FBI Director Kash Patel said federal investigators found that Bolton allegedly transmitted top-secret information through personal online accounts and kept the documents at his home, in direct violation of federal law.

The 76-year-old is the latest prominent Trump opponent to face prosecution. Just weeks ago, former FBI director James Comey was indicted in a case reportedly brought under pressure from Trump.

Critics of the president had warned that Comey – accused of making false statements – might only be the first of several cases in which Trump seeks to target political adversaries. Trump, however, said the proceedings were about "justice."

The FBI searched Bolton's residence in August – an operation observers also viewed as a show of force by the White House.

Bolton served as Trump's national security adviser during his first term. A veteran diplomat and known foreign policy hardliner, he resigned after about 18 months in a dispute with Trump.

--BERNAMA-dpa