Greenbelt, Maryland — Former US National Security Adviser John Bolton, once a key ally and now a fierce critic of President Donald Trump, pleaded not guilty on Friday to charges of mishandling classified information under the Espionage Act.
Bolton, 76, appeared in federal court wearing a dark blue suit and maroon tie. “Not guilty, your honor,” he told the judge. He was released on his own recognizance, and the next hearing was set for November 21.
The Charges
According to the indictment, Bolton is accused of sharing sensitive notes from intelligence briefings and meetings with senior officials and foreign leaders with two family members — identified by sources as his wife and daughter — for possible use in a forthcoming book.
Filed in federal court in Maryland, the indictment includes eight counts of transmitting national defense information and ten counts of retaining it, all under the Espionage Act.
Each count carries a potential penalty of up to 10 years in prison.
Bolton’s attorney, Abbe Lowell, said his client “did not unlawfully share or store any information.”
Political Context
Bolton’s indictment comes amid a wave of prosecutions against Trump’s high-profile critics, raising concerns about political interference in the Justice Department.
President Trump, who returned to power pledging “retribution” against his opponents, has pressed his attorney general Pam Bondi to pursue criminal cases against perceived adversaries — including former FBI Director James Comey and New York Attorney General Letitia James.
“The president has dispensed with decades-old norms that once insulated federal law enforcement from political pressure,” one legal analyst told Reuters.
From Insider to Opponent
Bolton, a veteran conservative hawk and former US ambassador to the United Nations, served as Trump’s National Security Adviser from 2018 to 2019.
After leaving the administration, he published a memoir accusing Trump of being “unfit to be president.”
The investigation into Bolton’s handling of classified material reportedly began in 2022, predating Trump’s second term. Justice Department officials familiar with the case say it is considered “stronger and more substantiated” than other politically charged prosecutions.
Asked about the indictment on Thursday, Trump dismissed his former adviser curtly:
“He’s a bad guy,” the president said.
