Former Trump security adviser John Bolton pleads 'not guilty' to all 18 charges
The ally turned critic of President Trump has become the third opponent of Trump to be indicted in recent weeks
Former Trump ally John Bolton has pleaded not guilty to 18 charges regarding the handling of classified information.
Mr Bolton appeared before a judge at his federal court arraignment in Greenbelt, Maryland, on Friday after he was indicted on Thursday.
During the arraignment, Judge Timothy Sullivan asked Mr Bolton whether he had read and understood the nature of the charges against him.
“I do your honor,” he replied.
The Department of Justice successfully argued on Thursday that the former national security adviser should face charges for two offences totalling 18 counts.
It comes after FBI agents raided the home of Mr Bolton in the early hours of August 22.
Agents went to Mr Bolton’s DC-area home as part of a high-profile national security probe, ordered by FBI Director Kash Patel.
Mr Bolton was told he faces up to 10 years in prison if he is convicted.
Mr Bolton served as national security adviser from 2018 to 2019, during Trump’s first term, but has since become an outspoken critic of Trump.
He told the court that he pleads “not guilty” on all 18 counts.
He has been released but is not allowed to travel internationally without the approval of the court. He was required to hand over his passport to his lawyer.
He is scheduled to be back in court next on November 21.
He is the third of Mr Trump's political opponents to be indicted in recent weeks - following former FBI director James Comey and New York Attorney General Letitia James.
Read more: Court throws out 'excessive' civil fraud penalty against Donald Trump
Read more: Donald Trump's 'Alligator Alcatraz' migrant jail faces closure
Mr Bolton faced criticism over his 2020 book, “The Room Where It Happened”, with claims that it included classified information.
President Trump has repeatedly said that the content violated an NDA and attempted to prevent publication at the time, but was ultimately unsuccessful in doing so.
It is unknown whether the charges relate to the memoir.
Mr Bolton has had a tumultuous relationship with the current President since the initial inquiry, often appearing on US news outlets to criticise foreign policy decisions taken by the President.
Trump has repeatedly criticised him in return, saying he “blew up the Middle East” and is “stupid”.
