The Justice Department announced that former National Security Advisor John Bolton has been indicted under the Espionage Act on multiple felony counts related to the mishandling of classified national defense information. He is accused of unlawfully transmitting and retaining materials marked Top Secret, including intelligence on foreign adversaries, national security operations, and future military activities.
The indictment charges Bolton with eight counts of transmitting national defense information and ten counts of unlawful retention. Prosecutors allege he sent classified documents using personal email and messaging accounts and stored additional materials at his home.
Sources familiar with the probe said his AOL account has been under scrutiny for years, separate from previous inquiries into Bolton’s memoir. Intelligence officials have long suspected the account was hacked by a foreign adversary.
If convicted, Bolton faces up to 10 years in prison for each count. The Justice Department’s National Security Division and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Maryland are jointly prosecuting the case.
Attorney General Pamela Bondi said the case demonstrates that “there is one tier of justice for all Americans.” FBI Director Kash Patel called the investigation a reminder that “no one is above the law,” while U.S. Attorney Kelly Hayes and FBI Baltimore Special Agent in Charge William DelBagno emphasized that safeguarding national security secrets is a fundamental duty of those entrusted with them.
