John Bolton, Donald Trump's former national security adviser, has arrived at a federal court to surrender to authorities on charges of mishandling classified information.

The 18 charges stem from allegations he shared or retained sensitive materials, including some characterised as top secret.

Bolton served during Trump's first administration but parted with the White House contentiously, and has become one of the president's most vocal public critics.

The indictment makes Bolton, 76, the third of the US president's political opponents to face charges in recent weeks. Bolton has said he would defend his 'lawful conduct'.

On Friday, Bolton did not respond to shouted questions from reporters as he entered the courthouse in Greenbelt, Maryland, to surrender to authorities.

He is expected to make an initial appearance before a judge and may have to stop at the US Marshals office for 'possible' fingerprinting and booking photo, CBS News, the BBC's partner in the US, reported.

Prosecutors have accused Bolton of using personal messaging apps and email to illegally transmit sensitive information.

Prosecutors contend that 'These documents revealed intelligence about future attacks, foreign adversaries, and foreign-policy relations.'

Bolton stated he would defend his 'lawful conduct' and expressed concerns over what he termed the 'weaponization of the Justice Department' against political opponents.

The indictment alleges Bolton shared 'diary-like entries' and used his personal email account to transmit sensitive messages. It also claims that between 2019 and 2021, Bolton was the target of a hacking attack believed to be associated with Iran, which gained access to classified materials.

Since 2020, Bolton has faced scrutiny over his handling of classified information, particularly during efforts to publish a memoir about his experiences in the Trump administration, which the Justice Department attempted to halt over concerns it might reveal classified information.

A federal judge ultimately ruled against the government's attempt to block the book but criticized Bolton for 'gambling with the national security of the United States.'

An investigation into Bolton's actions has continued under the Biden administration.