John Bolton, that worked in the first Trump administration, has arrived at a federal court to turn himself in to law enforcement facing accusations of mishandling classified information.
The eighteen counts arise from allegations that he distributed or kept sensitive materials, comprising some characterised as highly classified.
Bolton, that separated with the administration contentiously, has become one of the president's most vocal outspoken opponents.
The formal accusation makes Bolton, 76, the latest of the US president's political opponents to face charges in recent weeks.
Initial Hearing
On the end of the week, Bolton remained silent to shouted questions as he entered the federal building in Greenbelt, Maryland to submit to authorities.
He is anticipated to make an first court hearing before a judge and may have to visit the US Marshals office for "potential" printing and booking photo.
Prosecutors' Allegations
Prosecutors have accused Bolton of using private communication tools and electronic mail to illegally transmit sensitive information.
"The materials disclosed information about upcoming threats, foreign adversaries, and foreign-policy relations," the indictment stated.
Addressing the charges, Bolton said he would defend his "lawful conduct".
He stated he had "become the latest target in weaponizing the federal prosecutors to accuse those he [Trump] deems to be his opponents with charges that were declined before or misrepresent the truth."
Details of the Indictment
The indictment filed this recently alleged Bolton of sharing "journal-style notes" with two unnamed individuals, and using his personal email account to transmit communications with confidential information.
The document also states that between a two-year period, Bolton was allegedly the target of a hacking attack from a "cyber actor believed to be linked to the Iran" that breached his system, exposing the classified materials.
Previous Scrutiny
Bolton has been scrutinised for his handling of sensitive data since two years ago, when he sought to publish a memoir about his time in the Trump's initial presidency.
The federal prosecutors attempted to block the book's release, alleging it could include sensitive material.
A US magistrate ruled against the government, but criticized Bolton in his decision, writing he had "gambled with the national security 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 grand jury - a group of citizens established by a government lawyer to review proof to decide if a legal proceeding should move forward.
