Trump is acting like Stalin's secret police, says Bolton

Former national security adviser hits back after indictment

- ALEX WOODWARD

Donald Trump’s former national security adviser John Bolton delivered a damning rebuke of the charges against him after he became what he called the latest target in the president's politically motivated crusade against his “enemies”.

An 18-count federal grand jury indictment accuses Mr Bolton of illegally transmitting and retaining classified documents – allegations that appear to cover a period in which Mr Bolton was collecting material for a damning tell-all book about his time in the first Trump administration. The veteran diplomat - who also served as ambassador to the United Nations during the administration of President George W Bush - said in a searing statement on Thursday night that he has "devoted my life to America's foreign policy and national security".

"I would never compromise those goals. I tried to do that during my tenure in the first Trump administration, but resigned when it became impossible to do so," he said. He said the president launched a “retribution campaign” against him, which escalated with the publication of Mr Bolton's book