Ex-Trump adviser John Bolton faces Espionage Act charges

Former National Security Adviser John Bolton has been indicted on several counts of mishandling and sharing classified information. The federal court filing in Maryland claims Bolton gave sensitive government material to his wife and daughter. The indictment alleges the information was provided for possible use in a book project, as Bolton referred to his relatives as «editors,» Reuters reported.

Prosecutors say Bolton sent more than 1,000 pages of classified material, including details from high-level meetings, intelligence briefings and talks with foreign leaders, via electronic messages between 2018 and 2025.

Bolton, a former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations and President Donald Trump’s adviser during his first term, denied wrongdoing. «I look forward to defending my lawful conduct and exposing this abuse of power,» he said.

It is worth mentioning that after leaving the administration, Bolton has become one of Trump’s most outspoken critics, sparking anger from the president and his loyalists. Thus, the U.S. Department of Justice has also indicted former FBI Director James Comey and New York Attorney General Letitia James, both of whom were critical of Trump, for allegedly breaking the law.