Published: October 17, 2025, 22:10 EDT
Federal prosecutors have charged former U.S. national security adviser John Bolton with illegally retaining and sharing classified information, marking a rare criminal case against a senior national security official. The 18-count indictment alleges that Bolton stored top-secret records at home and disclosed restricted details in personal notes shared with relatives.
Indictment Alleges Improper Storage and Sharing of Secrets
The Justice Department filing in Greenbelt, Maryland, says Bolton kept more than 1,000 pages of diary-style material drawn from intelligence briefings, meetings with foreign leaders, and internal government deliberations.
Between 2018 and August 2025, prosecutors say, he sent excerpts to two family members that included information classified as “top secret.”
Investigators also allege Bolton’s email was hacked in 2021 by individuals believed to be linked to Iran, exposing sensitive U.S. data he had stored electronically. Although Bolton’s representative told the FBI about the hack, prosecutors say he failed to disclose that classified material had been transmitted through his account.
Bolton Denies Wrongdoing, Calls Case Politically Driven
Bolton, a longtime Republican foreign-policy figure who served under several administrations, rejected the allegations and accused former President Donald Trump of using the Justice Department to target political opponents.
“Now, I have become the latest target in weaponizing the Justice Department to charge those he deems to be his enemies,” Bolton said in a statement.
His attorney, Abbe Lowell, said the underlying facts “were investigated and resolved years ago” and that the materials cited were personal diaries, not government secrets. “Like many public officials throughout history, Ambassador Bolton kept diaries — that is not a crime,” Lowell said.
Sensitive Content and Intelligence Sources Cited
According to the indictment, some entries described foreign adversaries’ military plans and detailed U.S. intelligence collection methods. One note reportedly referenced a missile launch plan, while another summarized covert U.S. action.
Prosecutors say these disclosures risked revealing intelligence sources.
The family members who received the documents were not named in court filings, though a person familiar with the matter identified them as Bolton’s wife and daughter.
Justice Department Stresses Accountability
Attorney General Pam Bondi said the charges underscore that national security laws apply equally to all officials. “Anyone who abuses a position of power and jeopardizes our national security will be held accountable,” she said.
The case follows earlier prosecutions of former FBI Director James Comey and New York Attorney General Letitia James, both critics of Trump. However, unlike those cases, the Bolton indictment was signed by career national-security prosecutors rather than a recently appointed U.S. attorney.
Book Dispute Adds to Legal Tensions
The indictment revives controversy surrounding Bolton’s 2020 memoir The Room Where It Happened, which portrayed Trump as uninformed on foreign policy. The Trump White House tried unsuccessfully to block its publication, claiming the manuscript contained classified material.
A National Security Council official reviewing the book warned Bolton that it included “significant amounts” of sensitive information, some at the top-secret level. Bolton proceeded with publication after receiving legal advice that revisions had removed all classified content.
Prosecutors argue the diaries overlap with material from the book and illustrate Bolton’s disregard for classification protocols. Bolton’s defense team maintains that the Justice Department is re-litigating old disputes to silence a prominent critic.
Long Career in U.S. Foreign Policy
Bolton served in Republican administrations spanning four decades, including senior posts under Presidents Ronald Reagan and George W. Bush, when he acted as U.S. ambassador to the United Nations. Known for his hawkish stance on Iran and North Korea, he became Trump’s third national security adviser in 2018 but was dismissed the following year after policy clashes.
Following his departure, Bolton accused Trump of tying U.S. military aid to Ukraine to political investigations into Democrat Joe Biden — a claim central to Trump’s first impeachment.
Trump has repeatedly attacked Bolton, calling him a “warmonger” and alleging his book contained “highly classified information.”
Next Steps in the Case
The indictment sets up a closely watched legal battle testing how the government applies classified-information laws to former senior officials. Bolton’s arraignment is expected in federal court in Maryland in the coming weeks.
If convicted, he could face substantial fines and prison terms under the Espionage Act and related statutes.
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