John Bolton, the former national security adviser, found himself in legal trouble on Thursday when he was indicted. Bolton claims that he is “the latest target” in what he believes are President Trump’s attempts to use the Justice Department (DOJ) as a political weapon.

Bolton, who served during Trump’s first term before becoming one of his vocal critics, faces charges from a federal grand jury. The indictment includes eight counts of transmitting and ten counts of retaining national security information.

In a statement, Bolton remarked, “I have become the latest target in weaponizing the Justice Department to charge those [Trump] deems to be his enemies with charges that were declined before or distort the facts.”

Prosecutors argue that from April 2018 to at least August this year, Bolton “abused his position” by sharing over a thousand pages of sensitive information related to his daily activities with two relatives who did not have security clearances. According to a report from the Associated Press, those relatives were identified as Bolton’s wife and daughter.

The sensitive information was allegedly communicated to them in “diary-like entries” via non-governmental messaging platforms and email accounts.

The investigation into Bolton began under the Biden administration, and ramped up once Trump returned to office in January. In August, agents searched Bolton’s home and office. According to an affidavit later unsealed in court, the bureau suspected Bolton of improperly keeping national defense information related to his memoir, “The Room Where It Happened.”

In his statement, Bolton referenced the Trump administration’s attempts to prevent the book from being published. He said the book, published in 2020, was “reviewed and approved by the appropriate, experienced career clearance officials.”

The indictment also alleges that in July 2021, a representative for Bolton alerted the FBI that one of his personal accounts had been hacked by Iran. However, the representative did not say that Bolton shared classified information via the account or that the hackers had obtained access to government secrets.

Bolton, though, said Thursday that the FBI was “made fully aware” of the hack, and noted that “in four years of the prior administration, after these reviews, no charges were ever filed.”

Two other frequent Trump targets, New York Attorney General Letitia James (D) and former FBI Director James Comey, have also been indicted in recent weeks in federal court in Virginia. 

If convicted, Bolton faces up to 10 years for each of the 18 counts.

“These charges are not just about [Trump’s] focus on me or my diaries, but his intensive effort to intimidate his opponents, to ensure that he alone determines what is said about his conduct,” Bolton said. “Dissent and disagreement are foundational to America’s constitutional system, and vitally important to our freedom. 

“I look forward to the fight to defend my lawful conduct and to expose his abuse of power.”