John Bolton, the former U.S. National Security Adviser under President Donald Trump, was indicted on Thursday for allegedly sharing classified government information with two relatives — identified by sources as his wife and daughter — for possible use in a book.
The sweeping indictment accuses Bolton of transmitting and retaining national defense information in violation of the Espionage Act, with 18 total counts that could carry a maximum sentence of up to 10 years per count if convicted.
According to prosecutors, Bolton shared over a thousand pages of sensitive material between April 2018 and August 2025, including details from intelligence briefings, high-level government meetings, and discussions with foreign leaders.
Some of the material was allegedly discussed with his relatives in electronic messages, where Bolton referred to them as his “editors.” In one exchange, he mentioned consulting with a publisher, noting their “right of first refusal.”
Bolton denied any wrongdoing, asserting that he would “defend [his] lawful conduct and expose [Trump’s] abuse of power.” His attorney, Abbe Lowell, also maintained that Bolton neither unlawfully shared nor mishandled any classified information. The indictment was filed in federal court in Maryland and signed by U.S. Attorney Kelly Hayes and several career prosecutors.
The case comes amid a wave of indictments against Trump critics, including former FBI Director James Comey and New York Attorney General Letitia James, fueling claims of politically motivated prosecutions.
The Justice Department, now under Attorney General Pam Bondi, faces scrutiny for its selective approach, particularly after declining to charge Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth in a similar information-sharing case.
Prosecutors also revealed that Bolton’s personal email was hacked by a cyber actor linked to Iran, raising further questions about the handling of classified information. As of Thursday evening, no court date had been set for Bolton’s initial appearance.
