In a stunning development that has ignited fierce debate over political retribution in the U.S. justice system, former National Security Adviser John Bolton has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Maryland on charges related to the mishandling of classified information. The indictment, sought by prosecutors on Thursday afternoon at the federal courthouse in Greenbelt, Maryland, marks the latest high-profile case against a vocal critic of President Donald Trump.
Captive Dreamer posted:
“Q: John Bolton was just indicted by a grand jury in Maryland. You reaction?
TRUMP: I didn’t know that. You’re telling me for the first time. You know, I think he’s a bad person.”
😂
Q: John Bolton was just indicted by a grand jury in Maryland. You reaction?
TRUMP: I didn’t know that. You’re telling me for the first time. You know, I think he’s a bad person.
— captive dreamer (@avaricum777) October 16, 2025
Bolton, 76, served as Trump’s national security adviser from 2018 to 2019 before clashing publicly with the president over foreign policy decisions, particularly on issues like the withdrawal from the Iran nuclear deal and troop levels in Afghanistan.
His departure from the White House was acrimonious, and he later became one of Trump’s most outspoken detractors, testifying during Trump’s first impeachment trial in 2020 and authoring the bestselling book The Room Where It Happened, which detailed alleged abuses of power by the former president.
The Charges: Echoes of Espionage Act Violations
The indictment stems from an ongoing federal investigation into Bolton’s handling of sensitive national security documents, including materials allegedly shared or retained improperly after his tenure in the administration.
Prosecutors are expected to pursue charges under the Espionage Act, similar to those leveled against Trump himself in 2023 for retaining classified documents at his Mar-a-Lago estate, a case that was ultimately dismissed earlier this year.
The probe intensified following an FBI raid on Bolton’s Maryland home and Washington, D.C., office on August 22, 2025. Agents seized boxes of documents labeled “Trump I-IV,” printed daily activity logs, phones, hard drives, and computers.
Court filings revealed the discovery of records marked “classified,” “secret,” and “confidential,” prompting concerns about potential leaks or unauthorized disclosures. Additional complications arose from a reported foreign hack of Bolton’s email account, though details remain redacted.
Much of the case revolves around Bolton’s 2020 memoir. The Trump administration attempted to block its publication, arguing it contained classified information that Bolton failed to submit for proper prepublication review by the National Security Council.
Bolton countered that he had complied with legal obligations, obtaining a letter from an NSC official affirming the book was free of classified material. The Justice Department later sued for profits from the book, but the case did not result in criminal charges at the time.
Bolton’s attorney, has vehemently denied wrongdoing, stating that his client “did nothing inappropriate with classified records” and emphasizing Bolton’s decades of service as a diligent public servant with top-secret clearance. In a statement released shortly after the indictment, Lowell called the charges “politically motivated” and vowed a vigorous defense.
Liberals Think Democrats Real Crimes are Like Trump’s Political Persecution
Bolton’s case is the third indictment of a prominent Trump adversary in recent weeks, fueling accusations that the president is weaponizing the Justice Department for what lefties think is revenge. On September 28, former FBI Director James Comey was charged in Virginia with making false statements to Congress and obstruction of justice, allegations tied to his oversight of the 2016 Russia investigation into Trump’s campaign. 10 Days later, New York Attorney General Letitia James faced bank fraud charges related to a mortgage on her Virginia home, following her successful civil fraud lawsuit against Trump and his family business.
Critics, including Democratic lawmakers and civil liberties groups, have decried the moves as an assault on the rule of law.
