John Bolton

A federal grand jury has indicted former National Security Advisor John Bolton on 18 counts tied to improper handling of classified materials, per the U.S. Department of Justice. The charges include eight counts of transmitting national defense information and 10 counts of retaining national defense information. From about April 2018 through August 2025, the indictment claims Bolton shared more than a thousand pages of classified documents—some marked TOP SECRET/SCI—with two unauthorized individuals. In addition, the papers were allegedly stored in his Maryland home in violation of federal law. FBI Director Kash Patel said, “The FBI’s investigation revealed that John Bolton allegedly transmitted top secret information using personal online accounts and retained said documents in his house in direct violation of federal law. The case was based on meticulous work from dedicated career professionals at the FBI who followed the facts without fear or favor. Weaponization of justice will not be tolerated, and this FBI will stop at nothing to bring to justice anyone who threatens our national security.” (MORE NEWS: China’s Rare Earth Clampdown Threatens U.S. Tech, Defense) He turned himself in to federal authorities today and pleaded not guilty after being indicted in the classified information probe. Alleged Mishandling: Transmission and Retention According to the Department of Justice: “Bolton illegally transmitted NDI by using personal email and messaging application accounts to send sensitive documents classified as high as Top Secret. These documents revealed intelligence about future attacks, foreign adversaries, and foreign-policy relations. “ Beyond the transmissions, the indictment charges Bolton with retaining classified documents. The DOJ Press Release reads: “Bolton illegally retained NDI documents within his home. These documents included intelligence on an adversary’s leaders as well as information revealing sources and collections used to obtain statements on a foreign adversary.”   FBI Raid and Seizures In August 2025, FBI agents raided John Bolton’s home under a search warrant tied to a long-running investigation into classified document handling. Items Seized The FBI removed multiple devices and materials, including: Two iPhones (one red, one black) Three computers (a Dell XPS laptop, a Dell Precision Tower, another Dell model) One Seagate hard drive Two SanDisk 64 GB USB drives A white binder labeled “Statements and Reflections to Allied Strikes…” Four boxes of printed daily activities Typed folders labeled Trump I-IV These items are central to the government’s case that Bolton stored and processed classified data improperly. Legal Context Judge’s Warning in the 2020 Memoir Case The 2025 indictment revives concerns from his 2020 legal battle over Bolton’s “tell-all” book, The Room Where It Happened, about his service in the first Trump administration. In United States v. Bolton (Case No. 1:20-cv-1580-RCL), the government alleged he violated book prepublication review protocols by publishing without security clearance, risking classified information exposure. Seeking to block further distribution, including the audiobook, the government requested an injunction. U.S. District Judge Royce C. Lamberth denied this, citing the digital age’s irreversible information spread. He stated: “If nothing else, the government argues, an injunction today would at least prevent any further spread of the book… In the Internet age, even a handful of copies in circulation could irrevocably destroy confidentiality… The damage is done. There is no restoring the status quo.” Lamberth warned: “Defendant Bolton has gambled with the national security of the United States. He has exposed his country to harm and himself to civil (and potentially criminal) liability.” Although no injunction was issued, Bolton’s royalties were placed in a constructive trust. 2021 Biden DOJ Probe Dropped In 2021, a Biden-era DOJ probe into Bolton’s retention of classified documents was dropped for political reasons, and prosecutors concluded the memoir contained no classified information. 2025 Indictment and Trump DOJ Response The 2025 charges, alleging Bolton shared over a thousand pages of TOP SECRET/SCI documents and improperly stored them at his Maryland home, echo these earlier concerns. Attorney General Pamela Bondi emphasized, “There is one tier of justice for all Americans. Anyone who abuses a position of power and jeopardizes our national security will be held accountable. No one is above the law.” Why This Case Matters This indictment raises important issues about how top officials should treat classified information—and whose oversight they face. It also ties into broader debates over document handling policies, accountability for former officials, and national security. In particular: The case tests whether a former high-ranking official can be held criminally liable for retaining or disseminating classified intelligence after leaving government. It underscores tensions between public commentary, such as memoirs and speeches, and legal boundaries around classified materials. It spotlights the challenge of safeguarding intelligence while preserving certain free speech rights for former officials. Moreover, the case could influence future decisions about how strictly courts and prosecutors enforce laws on classified materials—especially for people who once held government security clearances. (MORE NEWS: Shock at the Vatican: Muslim Prayer Room Approved Inside Historic Library) The Takeaway The indictment of John Bolton marks one of the most consequential national security cases in recent history. Federal prosecutors allege that a former top U.S. official—trusted with the nation’s most sensitive intelligence—knowingly shared and stored highly classified information outside secure channels. The charges and FBI’s detailed findings suggest an extensive pattern of misconduct that could carry serious legal consequences if proven. This case also serves as a reminder that no individual, regardless of past position or political influence, is immune from accountability. As Bolton faces the legal process, the broader question remains: how should America safeguard its secrets while balancing transparency, free speech, and justice? The outcome of this case will likely shape how future administrations handle classified information and the standards to which their senior officials are held. Expose the Spin. Shatter the Narrative. Speak the Truth. At The Modern Memo, we don’t cover politics to play referee — we swing a machete through the spin, the double-speak, and the partisan theater. While the media protects the powerful and buries the backlash, we dig it up and drag it into the light. If you’re tired of rigged narratives, selective outrage,…