John Bolton Charged with Disclosing Classified Information

Former National Security Advisor John Bolton—one of Donald Trump’s fiercest critics—was indicted Thursday on charges of mishandling classified materials. A federal grand jury in Greenbelt, Maryland, brought 18 counts against him related to the transmission and retention of national defense information. Each charge carries a potential sentence of up to ten years in prison if convicted.

Prosecutors allege that in 2018–2019, Bolton shared more than a thousand pages of “diary” notes describing his work with sensitive information with two relatives who helped him prepare his 2020 memoir. He used a personal email account for the correspondence, which U.S. authorities believe was later hacked by a cyber actor linked to the Iranian government. The indictment also accuses Bolton of printing and storing some of these documents at his home in Bethesda, where the FBI conducted a search earlier this year.

Bolton’s attorney, Abbe Lowell, said the charges stem from “matters that were investigated and resolved years ago.” According to him, the allegations concern “Bolton’s private diary entries created over 45 years of public service, containing no classified information, shared only with close relatives, and known to the FBI since 2021.” Lowell emphasized that the defense will once again prove that Bolton “did not unlawfully disseminate or retain information.”

In a statement, Bolton stressed that as a career public servant, he would never endanger U.S. foreign policy or national security. “These charges are not only about me and my journals—they are about an effort to intimidate dissenters,” he said. “Dissent and criticism are the foundation of the American constitutional system and an essential part of our freedom. I intend to defend the legality of my actions and expose this abuse of power.”

Bolton—whom Trump repeatedly called “crazy” and “washed up”—became the third of the president’s opponents to face criminal charges in the past month. Asked about the case, Trump told reporters at the White House: “He’s a bad guy. Sad, but that’s life.” He added that he had not reviewed the case files but “just thinks Bolton is a bad person.”

Earlier, a grand jury in Alexandria, Virginia, indicted former FBI Director James Comey for lying to Congress, and New York Attorney General Letitia James for bank fraud. Comey pleaded not guilty, while James denied the charges. Unlike those cases—initiated by a prosecutor appointed by Trump—the indictment against Bolton was signed by respected federal prosecutor Kelly O. Hayes, who took over the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Maryland in February. Among the other signatories is Tom Sullivan, head of the office’s national security division.

After the grand jury foreperson delivered the sealed indictment to the judge, Sullivan left the courthouse without comment. According to sources, the investigation stems from a case opened under the Biden administration, and the evidence against Bolton is considered stronger than in the cases of Comey and James. However, Justice Department leadership reportedly pushed to bring charges quickly, as Trump intensified pressure to prosecute his political opponents.

John Eisenberg, head of the Justice Department’s national security division—which handles cases involving classified materials—was seen at the White House the day before. Bolton previously served as U.S. ambassador to the United Nations under President George W. Bush and became Trump’s third national security advisor.

According to an affidavit unsealed by the court last month, FBI agents believed Bolton violated the Espionage Act when he removed classified documents after leaving the Trump administration in 2019. In August, investigators seized computers, phones, and hundreds of documents from his home and office, some stored in folders labeled “Trump I–IV” and “Classified.” The suspicions were triggered by evidence of a 2021 hack of his AOL email account. Bolton’s representative notified the FBI of the cyberattack but failed to mention that potentially sensitive materials had been sent from that address. According to the indictment, the hackers threatened to release the correspondence, writing: “I don’t think you’ll like it if the FBI finds out what’s in John’s emails. It could be the biggest scandal since the Hillary leaks.”

To secure a conviction in cases involving mishandling of classified materials, prosecutors must prove that the defendant knew their actions were unlawful. In the indictment, investigators cite an April 2025 interview in which Bolton condemned Trump administration officials for discussing confidential matters in a leaked group chat, calling it “an act of blatant irresponsibility.”

Trials involving classified information typically last for years, as the application of the Classified Information Procedures Act requires lengthy and complex approvals. Bolton’s attorney will need to obtain a security clearance to review the evidence, while prosecutors may seek to withhold certain materials if they deem their disclosure irrelevant to the defense or potentially harmful to national security.

During Trump’s first term, the Justice Department had already investigated whether Bolton disclosed classified information in his 2020 memoir *The Room Where It Happened*, which portrayed Trump as “an unpredictable and stunningly uninformed leader.” The administration sought to block publication, but no charges were filed, and the case was closed in 2021. Bolton maintained that the book contained no classified material and had undergone the official review process.

Trump himself was later charged with 40 counts of unlawfully retaining government documents and obstructing justice; 32 of those counts involved the same National Defense Information statute cited in Bolton’s case. Unlike Trump, however, Bolton is not accused of obstructing the investigation. A federal judge in Florida later dismissed the charges against Trump, citing irregularities in the appointment of Special Counsel Jack Smith.

An investigation was also conducted into Joe Biden, after classified documents were found at his home in Wilmington and his office in Washington. In 2024, the special counsel concluded that there were no grounds for criminal prosecution.