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.
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