John Bolton, that served during the Trump's initial term, has arrived at a federal court to turn himself in to authorities facing accusations of improperly handling classified information.
The 18 charges stem from claims that he shared or retained confidential documents, including some labeled as highly classified.
Bolton, that parted with the administration acrimoniously, has emerged as one of the Trump's strongest public critics.
The indictment makes Bolton, 76, the third of the US president's political opponents to face charges in recent weeks.
Court Appearance
On Friday, Bolton remained silent to shouted questions as he walked into the courthouse in Greenbelt, Maryland to submit to authorities.
He is expected to make an initial appearance before a judge and may have to visit the US Marshals office for "possible" printing and booking photo.
Prosecutors' Allegations
Prosecutors have charged Bolton of using private communication tools and electronic mail to wrongfully share sensitive information.
"These documents revealed intelligence about upcoming threats, international foes, and diplomatic ties," the indictment stated.
Responding to the allegations, Bolton said he would justify his "lawful conduct".
He added he had "turned into the most recent focus in weaponizing the Justice Department to accuse those he [Trump] deems to be his opponents with allegations that were declined before or misrepresent the facts."
Specific Accusations
The formal charges filed this week accused Bolton of sharing "diary-like entries" with two unidentified persons, and using his private email to send messages with confidential information.
The document also claims that between a two-year period, Bolton was allegedly the target of a hacking attack from a "digital entity thought to be associated with the Iran" that breached his system, revealing the sensitive documents.
Previous Scrutiny
Bolton has been scrutinised for his handling of sensitive data since 2020, when he attempted to release a book about his tenure in the Trump's initial presidency.
The federal prosecutors tried to block the publication, alleging it could contain sensitive material.
A US magistrate ruled against the administration, but rebuked Bolton in his decision, stating he had "taken risks with the national security of the United States".
An investigation into Bolton persisted into the current presidency.
Legal Process
An formal charge in the US legal framework is a formal accusation issued by a public panel - a group of citizens set up by a prosecutor to review proof to determine if a case should move forward.
