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Former President Donald Trump has repeatedly shown his wish to see critics probed, exerting influence on the Justice Department to prosecute ex FBI Director James Comey and New York Attorney General Letitia James.

"We can't delay any longer, it's damaging our standing and trustworthiness," the leader wrote last month in a Truth Social post.

"I was impeached twice, and charged me (five times!)" he said, mentioning the four criminal cases he faced after departing the White House in 2021 and James's civil case.

Both have subsequently been indicted, in cases that numerous specialists have said appear to be driven by politics and challenging to succeed in court.

But the most recent allegations against a presidential opponent, ex national security adviser John Bolton, stand apart, legal experts and former prosecutors say.

"In my opinion, comparing Bolton's case to Comey's is like equating two different things," said Mark Lesko, a former acting US attorney for the Eastern District of New York.

This Specifics of Bolton's Legal Situation

Bolton has been formally charged on national allegations related to the supposed improper handling of sensitive materials. Since departing the White House in 2019, he has become a vocal presidential opponent, even to describe him "remarkably ignorant" and unfit for the presidency in his book.

Specialists say that while there may be political reasons to target Bolton, the procedures used to obtain an charge and the proof compiled against him suggest a possibly more substantial legal argument than the DOJ presented against James.

"This misconduct that's being claimed is simultaneously more serious and seems to have taken place over a significant period of time," commented Carissa Byrne Hessick, a professor at the University of North Carolina School of Law.

Throughout his time as Trump's national security adviser, and after his 2019 White House exit, authorities alleged that Bolton put the nation at danger by improperly retaining and sending classified information to relatives using unprotected methods, including AOL. Some of the materials were marked highly classified.

The charge states that at a certain time a unauthorized user accessed to Bolton's account where documents were kept and sent an apparent warning to cause "the largest controversy since Hillary [Clinton]'s emails were released".

Bolton entered a not guilty plea during a court appearance on Friday to eighteen distinct counts of mishandling sensitive materials.

Retribution or a Substantial Case?

The timing of his charge - arriving on the tails of allegations against Comey - has renewed concerns about external influence on the legal system.

Trump once suggested Bolton belonged in prison, and called him a "disreputable person". Bolton, for his role, authored a book about his experience in the Trump administration that was highly critical of the leader.

"Undoubtedly that the schedule of this charge, when paired with others, has prompted questions about the validity of these charges, and the reason these charges are being brought now," stated Jamil Jaffer, founder and director of the National Security Institute.

However, he continued, "should the Justice Department is able to prove the facts stated and demonstrate the material is correctly designated, his behavior may certainly have broken the statute".

Charging such a senior figure for improperly handling classified documents is "uncommon" but not unprecedented, said Carrie Cordero, a expert at the Center for a New American Security.

"Cases that involve classified information present challenges to try, but they may and are filed against both junior and senior personnel, from occasionally," she said.

Similarities to Examinations into Former President and Biden

Trump likewise encountered allegations of improperly keeping classified documents at his Mar-a-Lago property in Florida and hindering their recovery, but that matter was eventually thrown out by a federal judge and negated by his re-election as president.

A special counsel additionally determined that former President Joe Biden wrongfully stored classified documents from his period as vice president, but did not prosecute him.

Bolton's situation bears similarities to Biden's classified documents issues, noted Mr Lesko, who previously held a top national security role at the DOJ.

Rigorous protocols regulate the handling of classified documents. To secure a conviction, the prosecution must demonstrate that Bolton was aware the information he was sending was restricted, and he had to knowingly transfer it to someone without authorization to obtain it.

"Because of the classified nature of the material at question in this matter, we don't have a lot of particulars about the reasons the government contends elements like the diary entries and the other material he communicated by email, and why there were restricted," said Mr Jaffer.

A More Traditional Prosecution

The procedure by which the DOJ initiated this case will be under scrutiny, after Trump openly expressed his wish to see his critics prosecuted and some of those charges came to fruition.

But Mr Lesko said in Bolton's case, prosecutors appear to have followed protocol.

"This Bolton prosecution and ultimately the charge appeared to have followed the standard procedure including the regulations and norms within the DOJ," he said.

In contrast to Comey's short, two-page charge, Bolton's was a increasingly "conventional" filing that "clearly sets forth the details concerning the circumstances and situation here," Mr Lesko said.

"It appears reasonably consistent with a long line of cases... where government officials mishandled and transmitted sensitive information."