The Justice Department is reportedly preparing to bring criminal charges against former National Security Advisor John Bolton as early as next week. Prosecutors in Maryland are weighing whether to present the case to a grand jury or to expedite proceedings by filing a direct complaint in court, which could lead to formal charges being announced within days. This development follows an extensive FBI investigation into Bolton’s handling of classified materials during and after his tenure in the Trump administration.
John Bolton, 76, served as national security advisor from 2018 to 2019 under President Donald Trump. Since leaving office, Bolton has been an outspoken critic of Trump, frequently opposing his foreign policy decisions and supporting prior Justice Department actions against the former president. Despite his vocal opposition to Trump, Bolton now faces scrutiny himself over allegations of mishandling classified information, highlighting the ongoing legal complexities involving former Trump officials.
The investigation intensified after FBI raids on Bolton’s Maryland home and office on August 22, during which agents seized a significant amount of evidence. According to a publicly released inventory, investigators confiscated three computers, two iPhones, two USB drives, a hard drive, and large quantities of documents, including printed daily activity logs and folders labeled with sensitive titles such as “Trump I – IV.” The FBI confirmed Bolton is under criminal investigation for possible violations of the Espionage Act and related laws concerning the unlawful retention of classified information.
These allegations stem from Bolton’s 2020 memoir, The Room Where It Happened: A White House Memoir, which the Trump administration tried to block from publication. The government argued Bolton did not complete the required prepublication review to ensure classified information was properly vetted before release. Although a U.S. District Judge declined to halt the book’s publication, he found Bolton had “likely published classified materials” and “exposed his country to harm.” The broader lawsuit against Bolton was allowed to proceed but was later dismissed by the Biden administration in 2021.
More recently, reports emerged that U.S. intelligence, with help from a foreign spy service, uncovered that Bolton might have shared classified emails during his time in the Trump administration through unsecured channels to several associates. These revelations have added momentum to the current investigation, which critics have framed as politically charged but is officially pursued under the Biden administration. Authorities are also concerned that some of the documents allegedly retained by Bolton may have been accessed by foreign adversaries.
The case against Bolton highlights the serious legal and national security challenges related to the handling of classified information by high-level government officials. As the Justice Department prepares possible criminal charges, the outcome could have significant implications not only for Bolton personally but also for how sensitive government information is protected and managed going forward. The unfolding investigation reflects the broader scrutiny of former administration figures and the continued tensions surrounding classified material and its potential misuse.
