Former Trump administration national security adviser John Bolton was charged Thursday with illegally storing and transmitting classified information, setting the stage for a high-profile court case involving the longtime Republican foreign policy figure and outspoken critic of Donald Trump.
The 18-count indictment follows an investigation that came into public view in August, when the FBI searched Bolton’s home in Maryland and his Washington office for classified records from his years in government. Agents reportedly seized multiple documents labeled “classified,” “confidential,” and “secret,” including material on weapons of mass destruction, strategic communication, and U.S. missions to the United Nations.
Bolton, who served as Trump’s third national security adviser in 2018–2019, had a longstanding career in government, including roles in the Justice Department under Reagan, arms control at the State Department under George W. Bush, and a temporary stint as U.S. ambassador to the UN.
Questions about his handling of sensitive information date back to the 2020 publication of his book, The Room Where It Happened, which criticized Trump’s foreign policy knowledge. The Trump administration contended the manuscript contained classified material that could threaten national security, while Bolton’s lawyers argued that the book had undergone pre-publication review and included many documents approved by the White House, some dating back decades.
The indictment emerges amid scrutiny over Justice Department actions against high-profile figures. Unlike some cases filed by politically appointed prosecutors, Bolton’s charges were brought by a career U.S. attorney in Maryland, highlighting a difference in process compared with other recent high-profile investigations.
During his brief tenure in the Trump White House, Bolton clashed with the president over North Korea, Iran, and Ukraine policy, ultimately resigning in September 2019. After leaving office, he publicly criticized Trump and alleged in his book that the president linked military aid to Ukraine with investigations into Joe Biden, Trump’s 2020 election rival. Trump responded by calling Bolton a “washed-up guy” and claiming the book contained “highly classified information” published without approval.
The case marks a dramatic chapter in Bolton’s long career in U.S. foreign policy and national security. Observers are closely watching the developments, as the trial will test both legal boundaries on the handling of classified material and the ongoing political tensions surrounding Trump-era officials.
Tags: John Bolton, Trump Administration, Classified Documents, National Security, FBI Investigation, The Room Where It Happened, 2025 Indictments, U.S. Politics.
U.S. President Donald Trump said on Thursday that Russian President Vladimir Putin had agreed to halt attacks on Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities for o...
American Airlines said on Thursday it plans to resume daily service to Venezuela once regulators approve and security assessments are complete, markin...
Spain’s transport minister Oscar Puente said on Thursday that the government has stepped up investment across the railway network after years of und...
Gaza families are watching the Rafah crossing closely as expectations build for a phased reopening under the peace plan, though no timetable has been ...
U.S. border czar Tom Homan, newly appointed to oversee President Donald Trump's immigration surge in Minneapolis, said agents would concentrate on tar...
U.S. President Donald Trump said on Thursday that Russian President Vladimir Putin had agreed to halt attacks on Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities for one week, citing extreme cold weather across Ukraine.
The European Union has added Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) to its list of terrorist organisations, citing the group’s role in recent deadly crackdowns on protesters. EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas called it a “decisive step” to ensure that “repression cannot go unanswered.”
Iran’s armed forces are prepared to “immediately and powerfully” respond to any U.S. attack, Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi said, as American military assets arrived in the Middle East amid renewed tensions over Tehran’s nuclear program.
“The decision is made that the Qamishli air base is not needed anymore,” political analyst Dmitry Bridzhe said, as Russia begins withdrawing forces from its facility in northeastern Syria amid shifts in the country’s political and security landscape.
The S&P 500 edged to a record closing high on Tuesday, marking its fifth consecutive day of gains, as strong advances in technology stocks offset a sharp selloff in healthcare shares and a mixed batch of corporate earnings.
Liverpool confirmed direct qualification to the UEFA Champions League round of 16 with a 6-0 win over Qarabağ at Anfield in their final league-phase match. Despite the setback, Qarabağ secured a play-off spot, with results elsewhere going in the Azerbaijani champions’ favour on the final matchday.
Iraq's former Prime Minister Nouri Al-Maliki said on Wednesday that he rejects U.S. interference in Iraq's internal affairs, after U.S. President Donald Trump threatened to cut off support to the country if Maliki was picked as prime minister.
China is supplying key industrial equipment that has enabled Russia to speed up production of its newest nuclear-capable hypersonic missile, an investigation by The Telegraph has found, heightening concerns in Europe over Moscow’s ability to threaten the West despite international sanctions.
Chevron is in talks with Iraq’s oil ministry over potential changes to the commercial framework governing the West Qurna 2 oilfield, one of the world’s largest producing assets, after Baghdad nationalised the field earlier this month following U.S. sanctions imposed on Russia’s Lukoil.
American Airlines said on Thursday it plans to resume daily service to Venezuela once regulators approve and security assessments are complete, marking the carrier's return just weeks after the U.S. military operation that removed Nicolás Maduro from power.
Spain’s transport minister Oscar Puente said on Thursday that the government has stepped up investment across the railway network after years of underfunding, a point he underlined while senators pressed him over two recent train accidents.
U.S. President Donald Trump said on Thursday that Russian President Vladimir Putin had agreed to halt attacks on Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities for one week, citing extreme cold weather across Ukraine.
Gaza families are watching the Rafah crossing closely as expectations build for a phased reopening under the peace plan, though no timetable has been confirmed.
U.S. border czar Tom Homan, newly appointed to oversee President Donald Trump's immigration surge in Minneapolis, said agents would concentrate on targeted, strategic enforcement following weeks of criticism over heavy-handed tactics.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment