Former National Security Adviser John Bolton has been indicted by a federal grand jury on 18 criminal counts related to the mishandling of classified information, marking a dramatic escalation in the Justice Department’s effort to crack down on leaks and breaches of national defense secrecy.
The charges include unlawful retention and transmission of national defense information, with prosecutors alleging that Bolton sent sensitive classified documents over unsecured personal email accounts, some of which were later accessed by foreign hackers — reportedly tied to Iran. He’s also accused of knowingly sharing restricted material with unauthorized recipients, including family members, accompanied by messages like “More stuff coming!!!” and “None of which we talk about!!!”
The indictment follows a long-running investigation into Bolton’s conduct during and after his tenure in the Trump administration. According to CNN and court filings, the former adviser allegedly disclosed highly classified information to both his wife and daughter. FBI agents reportedly raided his Maryland home and his Washington, D.C. office earlier this year, seizing multiple documents marked as classified.
Bolton is expected to surrender to federal authorities at a courthouse in Greenbelt, Maryland as early as Friday.
In a public statement, Bolton painted the prosecution as politically motivated.
“For four decades, I have devoted my life to America’s foreign policy and national security. I would never compromise those goals,” he said. “Now, I have become the latest target in weaponizing the Justice Department to charge those he deems to be his enemies with charges that were declined before or distort the facts.”
The indictment makes Bolton the third prominent Trump critic to be charged in recent weeks:
Letitia James, the New York Attorney General who spearheaded the civil fraud case against President Trump, was indicted last week on mortgage fraud charges. Federal prosecutors allege she falsely claimed a Virginia house as her primary residence in 2023 while legally required to reside in New York as a sitting AG.
James Comey, former FBI Director, was indicted in late September for obstruction and making false statements to Congress. He has pleaded not guilty.
Attorney General Pam Bondi responded to the Bolton indictment by reiterating the administration’s stance.
“No one is above the law,” she said. “Today’s indictment reflects this Department of Justice’s commitment to holding those who abuse positions of power accountable for misleading the American people.”
The charges against Bolton come after years of public feuds between him and President Trump. Bolton famously clashed with the administration over foreign policy and later published a memoir containing controversial details about his time in the White House — a book that also underwent pre-publication review by national security officials.
Now, he faces the possibility of serious prison time if convicted, as the Justice Department moves forward with a string of high-profile prosecutions targeting individuals once thought to be untouchable.
The post John Bolton Indicted on 18 Counts in Classified Documents Probe appeared first on Real News Now.
About Author
