Former national security adviser John Bolton, once a close ally and later a fierce critic of Donald Trump, has been indicted on federal charges related to the handling of classified information. The John Bolton indicted case marks the third time in recent weeks that a prominent critic of the U.S. president has faced prosecution, deepening concerns about political retribution within Washington.
John Bolton indicted on 18 charges
According to a 26-page indictment unsealed in a Maryland court, Bolton faces eight counts of transmitting national defence information and ten counts of unlawful retention of classified material. Prosecutors allege that he illegally stored and shared top-secret documents, some revealing sensitive intelligence about foreign adversaries and potential future attacks.
The indictment follows FBI raids on Bolton’s home and office in August. Agents reportedly discovered over 1,000 pages of “diary-like” entries containing classified details from his time in government, which he allegedly shared with family members.
If convicted, the 76-year-old could face up to 10 years in prison per count—a potential sentence spanning decades. He is expected to surrender to authorities on Friday.
Bolton denies wrongdoing
In a statement, Bolton insisted he is innocent, accusing Trump of weaponizing the Justice Department to punish his political enemies. “I have become the latest target in a campaign to criminalize dissent,” he said, vowing to defend his “lawful conduct” in court.
His attorney, Abbe Lowell, argued that the documents were personal diaries, not state secrets, and were known to the FBI as early as 2021. “Keeping a journal is not a crime,” he said.
The indictment also revealed that Bolton’s email account was hacked by a cyber actor linked to Iran, potentially compromising classified data.
Political implications and background
Bolton, who served under Presidents George W. Bush and Donald Trump, was fired in 2019 after policy disagreements. His 2020 memoir, The Room Where It Happened, depicted Trump as impulsive and uninformed, prompting a failed White House lawsuit to block publication.
Trump responded to the charges on Thursday, calling Bolton “a bad guy” but claiming he knew nothing about the indictment.
With Bolton joining former FBI Director James Comey and New York Attorney General Letitia James on the growing list of Trump critics facing prosecution, the John Bolton indicted case adds a fresh layer of political tension to an already divided America.
