'Missile launch plans and US covert operations': John Bolton charged with mishandling classified information

Washington: Former U.S. National Security Adviser John Bolton, who served under President Donald Trump and later became one of his fiercest critics, has been charged with unlawfully storing and sharing top-secret records from his time in government.

The 18-count indictment, unsealed Thursday, accuses Bolton of keeping classified material at his Maryland home and sharing diary-like notes containing sensitive information with two relatives, identified by a person familiar with the case as his wife and daughter. Prosecutors allege that some of the information detailed meetings with foreign leaders, U.S. intelligence briefings, and covert operations.

The indictment also suggests that Iranian-linked hackers accessed Bolton’s email account, gaining entry to classified information he had shared. While a Bolton representative alerted the FBI in 2021 about the breach, prosecutors say he failed to disclose that the compromised messages contained government secrets.

“This indictment underscores that no one is above the law,” Attorney General Pam Bondi said in a statement. “Anyone who abuses a position of power and jeopardises our national security will be held accountable.”

Bolton, a longtime Republican foreign policy figure known for his hawkish views, served in Trump’s administration from 2018 until his firing in 2019. He later published a scathing memoir, The Room Where It Happened, that portrayed Trump as “grossly misinformed” about global affairs, a book the Justice Department had previously tried to block, citing classified material concerns.

In a defiant statement Thursday, Bolton denied the charges and accused Trump of using the Justice Department as a political weapon. “Now, I have become the latest target in weaponising the Justice Department to charge those he deems to be his enemies with charges that were declined before or distort the facts,” he said. “These charges are not just about his focus on me or my diaries, but his intensive effort to intimidate his opponents, to ensure that he alone determines what is said about his conduct.”

The indictment claims Bolton knowingly shared over 1,000 pages of sensitive material with his relatives between 2018 and August 2025. One message included the warning: “None of which we talk about!!!” — to which a relative responded, “Shhhhh,” according to prosecutors.

Among the shared materials were documents detailing a foreign adversary’s missile launch plans and U.S. covert operations, some classified as “top secret.” Prosecutors also cite an interview in which Bolton criticised other officials for discussing military details over encrypted apps like Signal, arguing it shows he understood proper security protocols.

Bolton’s attorney, Abbe Lowell, called the charges baseless and politically motivated. “The underlying facts in this case were investigated and resolved years ago,” Lowell said. “Like many public officials throughout history, Amb. Bolton kept diaries — that is not a crime. We look forward to proving once again that Amb. Bolton did not unlawfully share or store any information.”

The case marks the third recent indictment of a prominent Trump critic, following charges against former FBI Director James Comey and New York Attorney General Letitia James. However, unlike those cases, Bolton’s was brought by career national security prosecutors rather than a recently appointed U.S. attorney.

Bolton previously served in senior roles under Presidents Ronald Reagan and George W. Bush, including as U.S. ambassador to the United Nations through a recess appointment. His tenure as Trump’s third national security adviser was marked by frequent clashes over Iran, North Korea, and Ukraine policy, disputes that ultimately led to his dismissal.

After his departure, Bolton alleged that Trump had tied military aid to Ukraine to that country’s willingness to investigate Joe Biden, then his likely 2020 election rival. Trump responded by branding Bolton a “washed-up guy” and a “crazy” warmonger who would have led the U.S. into “World War Six.” AP