Former National Security Adviser John Bolton Indicted on 18 Counts Over National Defense Information
On October 16, 2025, in Maryland, a federal grand jury indicted former National Security Adviser John Bolton. The Justice Department announced that day that Bolton, 76, of Bethesda, Maryland, was charged with eight counts of transmission of national defense information and 10 counts of unlawful retention of national defense information, in a case involving the mishandling of classified information.
Attorney General Pamela Bondi said there is one tier of justice for all Americans, and that anyone who abuses a position of power and jeopardizes national security will be held accountable, adding that no one is above the law. FBI Director Kash Patel said the investigation revealed that Bolton allegedly transmitted top secret information using personal online accounts and retained the documents in his house in direct violation of federal law.
The indictment alleges that Bolton used personal email and messaging accounts to illegally transmit sensitive documents classified as high as Top Secret, revealing intelligence about future attacks, foreign adversaries and foreign-policy relations. It also alleges he illegally retained national defense documents in his home, including intelligence on an adversary's leaders and information revealing sources and collections used to obtain statements on a foreign adversary.
The Justice Department said that if convicted, Bolton faces a maximum of 10 years in prison on each count. The FBI's Baltimore Field Office investigated the case, which is being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Maryland and Justice Department National Security Division attorneys. In August, the FBI searched Bolton's home and office, as GSM reported at the time.
An indictment is merely an allegation. Bolton is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
(Source: U.S. Department of Justice)
Source: U.S. Department of Justice
Published by GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 图：John Bolton 官方肖像。美国政府，公共领域，经 Wikimedia Commons。 / Photo: Official portrait of John Bolton. By the United States Government, public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.
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