Former US National Security Advisor John Bolton has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Maryland on 18 counts of transmitting and retaining classified information, becoming the third outspoken critic of Donald Trump to face criminal charges in recent weeks.
The 76-year-old diplomat, who once served as one of Trump’s closest national security aides, is accused of sharing top-secret documents via email with two unnamed individuals believed to be his wife and daughter. According to the Justice Department, the leaked files contained sensitive intelligence on future attacks, foreign adversaries, and diplomatic strategy. Each count carries a potential 10-year prison sentence.
When asked about the indictment, Trump dismissed his former advisor as a “bad guy,” adding tersely, “That’s the way it goes.”
The 26-page indictment deepens concerns among legal experts about what appears to be a pattern of prosecutions targeting Trump’s political foes. Bolton’s case follows the indictments of New York Attorney General Letitia James and former FBI Director James Comey, both of whom have clashed publicly with the former president.
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James, charged with bank fraud and false statements over a 2020 property purchase in Norfolk, Virginia, called the accusations “baseless” and a form of “political retribution.” Comey, facing charges of obstructing a congressional proceeding and making false statements to Congress, has pleaded not guilty, with his defense team arguing the case amounts to selective prosecution.
The charges come amid Trump’s mounting public campaign against perceived enemies. In a recent Truth Social post, the Republican frontrunner urged Attorney General Pam Bondi to “take action” against a list of officials he claims have wronged him—though Bolton was not named directly.
Still, the move reignites tensions between the two men. Trump has repeatedly derided Bolton since firing him in 2019, calling him “incompetent” and revoking his security clearance shortly after taking office.
With yet another former insider now in the crosshairs of his administration’s Justice Department, Trump’s use of prosecutorial power against critics is drawing sharp scrutiny — even from some within his own party.