A federal grand jury has indicted former national security adviser John Bolton on multiple counts of mishandling classified materials, marking the third criminal case in recent weeks against a prominent critic of President Donald Trump.
The indictment, filed Thursday in federal court in Maryland, accuses Bolton of unlawfully transmitting and retaining national defense information following his departure from the Trump administration. Prosecutors charged him with eight counts of transmission and ten counts of unlawful retention of classified materials, some reportedly labeled “Top Secret/SCI.”
Bolton, 76, has denied wrongdoing, calling the case politically motivated and part of what he described as Trump’s long-standing campaign of retribution. His attorney, Abbe Lowell, said the documents in question were personal notes and unclassified diaries dating back decades, which the FBI had already reviewed years earlier.
The Justice Department said Bolton’s actions included sharing classified information with two relatives who did not hold security clearances. The indictment also alleges that he stored sensitive materials in his Maryland home, a violation of federal law. If convicted, he could face up to 10 years in prison on each count, though sentencing guidelines typically result in lower penalties.
FBI investigators searched Bolton’s residence and Washington, D.C., office in August, citing concerns raised in a previous review of his 2020 memoir The Room Where It Happened. The search warrant also referenced a 2021 cyberattack on Bolton’s personal AOL account by a hacker allegedly linked to Iran. Prosecutors say Bolton failed to disclose that the account contained classified government information.
Attorney General Pam Bondi, appointed during Trump’s second term, said in a statement that the case demonstrated equal accountability under the law. She emphasized that no one, regardless of political status or position, is exempt from justice. FBI Director Kash Patel added that the investigation revealed extensive unauthorized sharing of top-secret information through personal online accounts.
Bolton served as national security adviser from 2018 to 2019 and previously as U.S. ambassador to the United Nations under George W. Bush. His relationship with Trump deteriorated after public disagreements over foreign policy, including the administration’s approach to North Korea and Iran. Following his dismissal, Bolton published The Room Where It Happened, which contained unflattering depictions of Trump and claims that the president withheld military aid to Ukraine for political reasons.
Trump, who was acquitted in a Senate trial over the Ukraine allegations, has repeatedly accused Bolton of leaking classified information. When asked about the indictment Thursday, Trump said he was unaware of it but described Bolton as “a bad person.”
Bolton’s indictment follows recent criminal charges against former FBI Director James Comey and New York Attorney General Letitia James, both of whom have been outspoken critics of Trump. Comey faces allegations of false statements and obstruction of a congressional proceeding, while James has been charged with bank fraud related to misrepresentations on a mortgage application.
The timing of the indictments has drawn attention given Trump’s prior public remarks urging action against his political adversaries. In a recent social media post, Trump demanded that Attorney General Bondi “take action” against Bolton, Comey, and James, saying, “We can’t delay any longer.”
