John Bolton Indicted by a Grand Jury on 18 Counts for Mishandling Classified Information [WATCH]

Former White House National Security Advisor John Bolton was indicted Thursday on 18 counts related to the alleged improper handling and transmission of classified materials, according to Fox News Digital.

The charges include eight counts of transmission of National Defense Information and ten counts of retention of National Defense Information.

According to the indictment, “From on or about April 9, 2018, through at least on or about August 22, 2025, BOLTON abused his position as National Security Advisor by sharing more than a thousand pages of information about his day-to-day activities as the National Security Advisor—including information relating to the national defense which was classified up to the TOP SECRET/SCI level—with two unauthorized individuals, namely Individuals 1 and 2.”

The filing states that Bolton “also unlawfully retained documents, writings, and notes relating to the national defense, including information classified up to the TOP SECRET/SCI level, in his home in Montgomery County, Maryland.”

The indictment lists numerous examples of classified intelligence allegedly transmitted to unauthorized individuals.

These included intelligence on planned attacks by foreign adversaries, covert actions conducted by the United States and partner nations, intelligence collection methods, human intelligence sources, and military assessments of adversary nations.

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The indictment further states that some of the retained documents described “intelligence about an adversary’s knowledge of planned U.S. actions,” and “intelligence confirming a foreign adversary was responsible for an attack.”

All of the materials were marked “TOP SECRET.”

The FBI’s investigation into Bolton began after agents obtained information that he had retained classified materials at his Maryland residence.

FBI Director Kash Patel said in a statement, “The FBI’s investigation revealed that John Bolton allegedly transmitted top secret information using personal online accounts and retained said documents in his house in direct violation of federal law. The case was based on meticulous work from dedicated career professionals at the FBI who followed the facts without fear or favor. Weaponization of justice will not be tolerated, and this FBI will stop at nothing to bring to justice anyone who threatens our national security.”

Attorney General Pam Bondi said in a statement, “There is one tier of justice for all Americans. Anyone who abuses a position of power and jeopardizes our national security will be held accountable. No one is above the law.”

FBI agents executed a search warrant at Bolton’s home in Bethesda, Maryland, on August 22, seizing classified documents and electronic devices.

Items listed in the warrant return included two iPhones, three computers, a Seagate hard drive, two USB drives, and a white binder labeled “Statements and Reflections to Allied Strikes.”

Agents also seized typed documents labeled “Trump I–IV” and four boxes containing printed daily activity records.

A source familiar with the investigation told Fox News Digital that CIA Director John Ratcliffe provided limited intelligence access to Director Patel that justified the raid.

“I can’t give you any more details than that, but let’s just say that John Bolton really had some nerve to attack Trump over his handling of classified information,” the source said following the August search.

Bolton served as President Donald Trump’s National Security Advisor from 2018 to 2019.

The probe into Bolton’s alleged document retention had been previously closed under the Biden-Harris administration “for political reasons,” according to a senior U.S. official.

The case was reopened earlier this year following new evidence provided by intelligence officials.

“JOHN BOLTON FACES ESPIONAGE CHARGES”
“This indictment wasn’t brought by partisans. It’s career prosecutors charging Bolton with transmitting and retaining top secret national defense information. If true, he’s going to prison for a very long time.” – @mrddmia@nataliegwinters pic.twitter.com/jU6IrxvScC

— Real America’s Voice (RAV) (@RealAmVoice) October 16, 2025

Bolton was previously at the center of a Justice Department lawsuit over his 2020 memoir, The Room Where It Happened. Prosecutors argued that the book contained classified material related to national security and sought to block its release.

A federal judge allowed publication, and the Biden-Harris administration later dropped both criminal and civil actions against Bolton in 2021.

Since leaving the administration, Bolton has publicly criticized and occasionally praised President Trump.

He previously accused Trump of mishandling classified materials but has also expressed support for some of Trump’s foreign policy actions, including the 2024 U.S. strike on Iranian nuclear sites, which he called “a decisive action” and “the right thing to do.”

In January 2025, Bolton’s Secret Service protection was revoked the day after President Trump’s inauguration.

“I think it is a retribution presidency,” Bolton told ABC earlier this year in response to the move. Bolton has also faced security threats from Iran, including a 2021 assassination plot linked to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.

Bolton’s arraignment is expected in federal court in Maryland in the coming days.