John Bolton, former national security adviser under President Trump, and now viewed as one of his critics, was indicted on Thursday for allegedly sharing and storing classified information.
According to federal prosecutors, Bolton transmitted over 1,000 pages of what they described as “diary-like entries” to two family members and retained various documents, writings, and notes related to national defense.
A grand jury issued a 26-page indictment in federal court in Greenbelt, Maryland, on Thursday afternoon.
In his response to the indictment, Bolton asserted that he had become a target of retaliation from President Trump, whom he regards as a political adversary.
Here are five key points to consider.
Bolton’s charges against judges appointed by Obama
Bolton faces 18 charges in total—eight for transmitting national defense information and ten for retaining it unlawfully.
Each charge could potentially carry a 10-year prison sentence, although as a first-time offender, Bolton might receive a lighter punishment if found guilty.
U.S. District Judge Theodore Chuan, appointed by former President Obama, will oversee the proceedings. Judge Chuan has previously dealt with various legal challenges related to Trump’s agenda.
Earlier this year, Chuan supported religious groups opposing the government’s immigration policies targeting places of worship. He also ruled that Elon Musk was likely attempting to dismantle federal aid programs improperly, which led to calls for impeachment from some lawmakers.
In July, however, the judge denied efforts to block the Trump administration from revoking temporary legal statuses granted to Afghan and Cameroonian citizens, keeping the case active.
The diary at the center of the case
The indictment focuses on numerous “diary-like” documents that Bolton sent to family members detailing his experiences as national security adviser.
Prosecutors claim he misused his position by disclosing top-secret national defense information and stored classified documents in his home.
It is noted in the indictment that the two relatives were not authorized to view the information Bolton shared through various messaging apps or personal email accounts.
“Mr. Bolton did not have the authority to transmit any confidential information to Individuals 1 and 2 via his personal devices,” the indictment states. “Furthermore, those individuals were unauthorized to access the information he provided to them.”
The prosecution further alleges that Bolton printed out several entries and kept them in his home prior to an FBI search in August. He is said to have saved additional entries on personal devices as well.
In September 2019, after leaving the Trump administration, Bolton was reportedly informed that he could no longer keep classified materials at home.
In July 2021, his representatives alerted the FBI about a breach in one of his personal accounts that was thought to have been hacked by Iran. However, it seems the agent did not report that classified information might have been compromised during the breach.
Formation of the grand jury
A grand jury convened behind closed doors at a Maryland courthouse on Thursday. The building was largely quiet, except for a sentencing hearing occurring nearby.
By around 3:30 PM ET, grand jurors were seen departing after finishing their work.
Most members exited, leaving only the foreman who, after some time, was escorted upstairs to the court where the presiding judge awaited.
After a brief wait, the judge took their seat, and several prosecutors joined them at their designated area.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Gina Sims confirmed that the presiding judge voted in favor of issuing the indictment.
According to federal regulations, grand juries are composed of 16 to 23 members, necessitating a majority to determine probable cause for an indictment.
The foreman handed over a document to the judge, who proceeded to review it quietly before dismissing the court, which lasted only five minutes.
As he left the courthouse, lead prosecutor Thomas Sullivan declined to engage with reporters, simply instructing them to “shut up.”
Bolton claims to be a target
Following the announcement of the charges, Bolton argued in a statement that he is the “latest target” of what he sees as a retaliatory campaign orchestrated by President Trump, labeling him a political adversary.
This indictment marks the third recent instance in which the Justice Department has pursued legal action against long-time opponents of Trump.
Bolton stressed his commitment to U.S. foreign policy and national security, asserting he would “never compromise those goals,” and recalled that he resigned from his role in the Trump administration due to conditions that made his position untenable.
He alleged that the retaliation started then, continuing even during Trump’s attempts to publish his memoir, which led to conflict with the administration.
Bolton accused the Justice Department of being weaponized against his political enemies with charges he deems baseless, claiming: “Show me the man and I’ll show you the crime,” paralleling Stalin’s tactics.
He expressed that Trump’s strategies aim to silence dissent, stating, “Dissent and disagreement are fundamental to our constitutional system and critical to our freedoms.” Bolton added that he is eager to defend his actions and reveal the abuse of power he believes is at play.
His lawyer, Abby Rowell, mentioned that the aspects of the case had been investigated long ago, emphasizing that maintaining a diary, which many public officials have historically done, should not be criminalized.
Is this all revenge?
Bolton marks another instance of Trump critics facing charges, although his situation is distinct from that of other adversaries.
Former FBI Director James Comey was indicted by federal prosecutors for allegedly making false statements during a Congressional hearing in 2020, making him the first of Trump’s critics to face such legal action. Comey has pleaded not guilty and intends to contest the charges as politically motivated.
Recently, New York State Attorney General Letitia James was indicted on bank fraud charges associated with real estate investments in Norfolk, Virginia. She will make her initial court appearance next week and denies any wrongdoing.
Comey and James were both pursued by Lindsey Harrigan, a former personal lawyer for Trump, who now serves as the interim U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, following pressure regarding Comey’s indictment.
Mr. Harrigan sought prosecution against them, diverging from previous determinations by the former U.S. attorney, who found insufficient evidence against Comey.
Comey is set to challenge Harrigan’s appointment, while James has yet to disclose her intentions but has been critical of Harrigan’s allegiance to Trump over the law.
In contrast, Bolton’s prosecution is occurring in Greenbelt, Maryland, led by U.S. Attorney Kelly Hayes, whose position is permanent.
The charges against him were referred by Thomas Sullivan, head of the Maryland national security division, alongside four other prosecutors involved in Thursday’s indictment.
