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John Bolton indicted for mishandling classified documents amid Sahara tensions
John Bolton, former US national security adviser and long-time supporter of the Polisario Front in Washington, has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Maryland on 18 criminal counts for mishandling classified information. If convicted, the 76-year-old faces up to ten years in prison on each count.
The indictment alleges Bolton shared over 1,000 pages of sensitive national defense documents with two unauthorized family members through a personal AOL email account, which was later hacked by operatives linked to the Iranian government in 2021. Prosecutors claim this represents a serious abuse of his former position.
FBI Director Kash Patel stated that “weaponization of justice will not be tolerated,” emphasizing that the bureau “will stop at nothing to bring to justice anyone who threatens our national security.” Attorney General Pam Bondi reinforced this, asserting that “there is one tier of justice for all Americans” and that “no one is above the law.”
President Donald Trump, when asked about Bolton’s indictment, described him bluntly as “a bad guy” and expressed surprise at the charges. Bolton is the third prominent critic of Trump to face criminal charges recently, following former FBI Director James Comey and New York Attorney General Letitia James. Bolton maintains that the charges are politically motivated, linking them to disputes over his book, The Room Where It Happened, and Trump’s previous attempts to block its publication.
Beyond US domestic politics, the case coincides with ongoing tensions over Sahara. US officials, including senior advisor Massad Boulos, have reaffirmed support for Morocco’s sovereignty over the region, highlighting plans to open a US consulate in Morocco’s southern provinces. Boulos noted that the UN Security Council will soon vote on MINURSO’s mandate, focusing on the Sahara issue.
Bolton’s indictment represents a diplomatic setback for the Polisario Front, whose influence in Washington has declined amid growing US support for Morocco. Algeria’s continued backing of the separatist movement has left it increasingly isolated, while Morocco’s position on the Sahara strengthens in both regional and international arenas.