Trump’s former adviser John Bolton may face imminent federal charges over classified records: Report

John Bolton expected to face federal charges soon

John Bolton, former National Security Adviser to US President Donald Trump and now a vocal critic of his former boss, is reportedly expected to face federal criminal charges soon, according to officials cited by NBC News. An indictment could be issued as early as next week.

Officials said the US Attorney’s Office in Maryland, where Bolton resides, is preparing to bring the charges. A Justice Department spokesperson declined to discuss grand jury matters but said, “As a matter of law, we will not discuss any grand jury matters with the media, but this Justice Department is united as one team in our mission to make America safe again.”

The spokesperson added that the Attorney General, Deputy Attorney General, and the entire team at Main Justice continue to empower US Attorneys “to pursue justice in every case.”

Bolton's trouble deepens

In August 2024, the FBI searched Bolton’s home in Bethesda, Maryland, and his Washington, D.C., office as part of what sources described as a “national security investigation in search of classified records.”

The searches reportedly followed intelligence provided by CIA Director John Ratcliffe to FBI Director Kash Patel, suggesting that Bolton may have retained classified materials.

According to the sources, the search warrants were approved by a federal judge and supported by intelligence linking Bolton’s possession of sensitive information to potential national defense or Espionage Act violations.

The investigation reportedly focuses on whether Bolton improperly retained or shared classified materials, including documents from his time as US ambassador to the United Nations under President George W. Bush.

Evidence presented to the grand jury

Officials familiar with the matter told MSNBC that a grand jury in Maryland has been reviewing evidence for several weeks. Two sources close to the investigation said the pace of the case had recently accelerated. Acting US Attorney for Maryland Kelly Hayes reportedly told colleagues she believes there is sufficient evidence to justify charging Bolton.

If indicted, Bolton would become the third prominent Trump critic to face federal charges in recent weeks, following former FBI Director James Comey and New York Attorney General Letitia James.

Bolton’s response

Bolton’s attorney, Abbe Lowell, has maintained his client’s innocence, insisting that any documents with classified markings date back to the Bush administration and are typical of materials retained by senior government officials. “An objective and thorough review will show nothing inappropriate was stored or kept by Ambassador Bolton,” Lowell said in September.

Search warrant affidavit

A heavily redacted version of the affidavit used to justify the FBI search was unsealed last month. One section, titled “Hack of Bolton’s AOL Account by Foreign Entity,” was entirely blacked out. However, sources told MSNBC that it referred to a discovery made during an intelligence collection operation targeting a foreign government.

The ongoing investigation underscores the Justice Department’s continued scrutiny of the handling of classified information by former high-ranking officials.