So, there’s big news: John Bolton, who used to be Trump’s national security adviser, has been indicted by a grand jury. The charges? They basically say he mishandled and shared classified documents unlawfully.
This came down from a Maryland grand jury and accuses Bolton of eight counts related to the illegal transmission of national defense information, plus ten more for unlawfully hanging onto it.
The buzz from prosecutors is that he used personal email and messaging apps to share eight documents with people who shouldn’t have seen them. These docs were classified at various levels, from Secret all the way to Top Secret.
FBI raided Bolton’s home and office as part of this investigation.
Seven of those dodgy emails happened when he was still in the job during 2018 and 2019, and he apparently sent another one just days after Trump kicked him out in September 2019.
In his long-winded response, Bolton mentioned that he’s dedicated his life to U.S. foreign policy and would never do anything to compromise it. He claims this indictment is just Trump getting back at him since he left the administration and wrote a tell-all book.
Bolton said, “I’m ready to defend myself and reveal how Trump abuses his power.”
This indictment comes soon after similar charges against former FBI Chief James Comey and New York Attorney General Letitia James. Critics say Trump is on a rampage against people he sees as political enemies.
Back in August, federal agents seized items from Bolton’s home and office, searching for classified materials he was supposedly keeping.
Among the sensitive information detailed in the indictment, one document allegedly reveals intelligence on a planned attack by a hostile group in another country. Others are about sensitive sharing of info with U.S. allies, missile launch plans from foreign adversaries, insights on rival leaders, and U.S. covert action strategies.
The indictment also suggests Bolton abused his authority by sharing over a thousand pages of ‘diary-like’ entries with recipients referred to as ‘Individual 1’ and ‘Individual 2’, who prosecutors indicate are his family. Sources claim these mysterious individuals are his wife and daughter.
Bolton’s wife was reportedly present during the search two months back. Who’s who wasn’t immediately clear.
Furthermore, prosecutors assert that Bolton illegally kept documents, writings, and notes with classified info, stashing them both as paper records and in personal electronic devices at his Maryland home.
It’s alleged that after he left his position, his personal email got hacked by someone believed to be associated with Iran, accessing the classified materials he had shared with his family.
And when Bolton reported this hack to U.S. authorities in July 2021, he didn’t mention the sensitive info supposedly handled improper absolutely.
Bolton’s Rebuttal
Bolton firmly denies these charges, stating that he never illegally opted to carry classified materials from his government days and insisted that his memoir, “The Room Where It Happened,” did not have classified information.
In his recent remarks, Bolton highlighted that his book went through a thorough vetting process by seasoned clearance officials.
About the email hack, Bolton stated the FBI was fully informed.
“These charges target my personal diaries, but reflect Trump’s broader method of intimidation against opponents, ensuring he controls narratives about his behavior,” Bolton explained, emphasizing the importance of dissent in a democratic system.
His legal team insists they’ve done due diligence and that the papers recovered in the raid aren’t classified anymore. Bolton’s lawyer claimed the specifics under scrutiny have been dealt with ages ago. “These are his personal diaries, shared solely with his immediate family, known to the FBI for years.” They look forward to proving that Bolton mishandled nothing.
According to a statement from Attorney General Pamela Bondi, “Everyone is accountable under law, especially those who jeopardize national security by abusing their authority.”
Have a look at who else in Trump’s circle has faced scrutiny.
The ten documented papers Bolron supposedly held on to were snatched during the search and bear similarities to those he transmitted unlawfully while advising Trump.
Notably, this investigation is tied to the U.S. attorney’s office in Maryland—distinct from the local cases against Comey and James, which are being overseen by a Trump-approved attorney in Virginia.
Comey, facing charges for allegedly lying to Congress, and James, being accused of mortgage fraud, have both rebutted any allegations.
New York AG Letitia James maintains her innocence against fraud claims.
A while back, a federal judge unpacked a heavily redacted version of the warrant that granted them access to Bolton’s place, casting doubt on whether classified info slipped into Bolton’s previously published book—a suit Trump had previously tried to halt.
Regarding Bolton’s search day, Trump, claiming he was oblivious to what was happening, labeled Bolton a “sleazebag”. Reflecting on his own issues with classified documents back after the FBI’s 2022 raid on his residence, Trump remarked that the feeling of being raided “isn’t great.”
Oh, and in June 2023, Trump pleaded not guilty to 40 charges tied to his way of managing classified info after leaving the White House, responding to accusations of non-compliance with document retrieval.
After Trump regained the presidential seat last November, his case against him plunged due to Justice Department policies surrounding prosecuting incumbent presidents.
During a dialogue with Fox News, Trump insisted that Bolton’s classified disclosures made him a criminal—recommending jail time for his past actions during office.
