Former National Security Advisor John Bolton was indicted Thursday in a federal case over his alleged mishandling of classified information. The indictment comes after a lengthy investigation into whether Bolton improperly retained and published sensitive materials following his time in the Trump administration.
According to the Associated Press, federal authorities searched both Bolton’s Maryland residence and Washington, D.C. office earlier this year, uncovering classified records believed to have been kept from his time in government. The investigation, which began under the Biden administration but was revived by President Donald Trump, centers around Bolton’s 2020 memoir, which he published in defiance of White House warnings.
The Trump administration had warned Bolton not to release the book until classified content was removed. Despite those warnings, and an internal pre-publication review process, Bolton proceeded with publication. A federal judge at the time refused to block the book’s release but ruled that Bolton had “likely jeopardized national security” by moving forward.
Bolton’s memoir became a lightning rod during President Trump’s first impeachment trial, after portions of the manuscript were leaked to The New York Times. The White House maintained that the book included top-secret material that had not been properly cleared.
After returning to office, Trump revoked Bolton’s security clearance and ordered renewed scrutiny into the book’s contents. The indictment reportedly includes charges related to unlawful possession and dissemination of classified information.
Bolton served as Trump’s national security advisor from 2018 to 2019 before being fired. Once one of the administration’s most hawkish voices, particularly on Iran and North Korea, Bolton later turned on Trump, becoming a frequent critic and media commentator.
The indictment adds Bolton to a growing list of former government officials facing consequences for alleged mishandling of classified information. The Justice Department has not yet released a full statement or unsealed the formal charges.
