A Federal Jury Is Preparing to Indict John Bolton on Espionage Charges

A federal grand jury is expected to indict former National Security Advisor John Bolton on October 16, according to a source familiar with the matter. Bloomberg and Reuters were the first to report the government’s plans to present charges to the jury.

The indictment is part of a widening campaign of criminal prosecutions against President Donald Trump’s political opponents. The exact charges have not been disclosed, but the case materials—including a search warrant for Bolton’s home—are reportedly linked to potential violations of the Espionage Act.

Bolton’s attorney, Abbe Lowell, said his client had done nothing improper in handling classified documents.

The expected indictment comes at a highly charged moment for the Justice Department, which faces unprecedented pressure from Trump to pursue criminal cases against his political rivals.

In recent weeks, U.S. Attorney Lindsay Halligan—appointed by Trump in Virginia—has secured indictments against former FBI Director James Comey and New York Attorney General Letitia James, despite objections from the department’s career lawyers.

Bolton, who left the Trump administration in 2019, has long been one of his most outspoken critics, frequently appearing on television and accusing the former president of mishandling classified materials found at his Mar-a-Lago residence.

One focus of the investigation is a set of notes resembling personal diary entries that Bolton kept on his AOL email account. Investigators are examining whether they contained classified information. According to Lowell, the documents marked “secret” and seized by the FBI from Bolton’s phone date back to his earlier years of government service.

Bolton, who has held senior positions in federal agencies and had access to highly classified information, is known for his habit of meticulously recording work details. After leaving the administration, he continued his work in Washington, and investigators are also determining whether his aides might have had access to those records.

According to a redacted U.S. intelligence assessment included in the search materials, Bolton’s AOL account was hacked by a foreign adversary.

Such circumstances are relevant in cases brought under the Espionage Act: before pursuing charges, the Justice Department weighs a combination of factors. Typically, prosecutors look for four indicators—deliberate mishandling of classified information, the volume of material suggesting intent, signs of disloyalty to the United States, and obstruction of the investigation.