On October 16, 2025, a federal grand jury in Maryland indicted John Bolton, former National Security Advisor under President Donald Trump, on 18 counts related to the mishandling of classified national defense information. The charges include eight counts of transmitting national defense information and ten counts of unlawfully retaining such information.

The indictment alleges that Bolton transmitted sensitive documents to family members while preparing his 2020 memoir, using a personal email account and messaging application. These documents reportedly contained details from high-level government meetings, discussions with foreign leaders, and intelligence briefings. Additionally, classified materials were found at his residence in Bethesda, Maryland, and his office in Washington, D.C.

The Justice Department's investigation into Bolton's handling of classified documents began in 2022. In August 2025, FBI agents conducted searches of Bolton's home and office, uncovering documents marked "confidential" that referenced weapons of mass destruction. The indictment also notes that Bolton's personal email account, which contained sensitive materials, was hacked by an actor linked to Iran after he left office.

Bolton has denied any wrongdoing, asserting that he adhered to security protocols and that the documents in question were unclassified and already known to authorities. His legal team characterizes the charges as politically motivated. This indictment follows similar charges against other Trump critics, raising concerns about the politicization of the Justice Department.

The case is expected to be complex and may take months or years to resolve due to the classified nature of the materials involved. The outcome of this case could have significant implications for the handling of classified information by former government officials.

Sources: Reuters, Washington Post, CBS News