John Bolton expected to face federal charges soon, sources say

President Donald Trump’s former national security adviser John Bolton is expected to face federal criminal charges in the near future, according to two federal officials with knowledge of the investigation. An official said Bolton could be indicted as soon as next week. Other payments mentioned may be coming soon, with no timeline specified.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Maryland, where Bolton resides, will bring charges, officials said. MSNBC first reported the development. Bolton’s attorney, Abbe Lowell, did not immediately respond to a request for comment. A Justice Department spokesman declined to discuss grand jury matters.

“As a matter of law, we will not discuss grand jury matters with the media, but the Department of Justice is united as one team in our mission to make America safe again,” the spokesman said. “And the Attorney General, the Deputy Attorney General, along with the entire team at Main Justice, continue to empower our U.S. Attorneys to pursue justice in all cases.”
Also read: A lawsuit was filed against Trump’s enemy, New York Attorney General Letitia James

FBI searched John Bolton’s properties in August 2024

The FBI conducted searches of Bolton’s Maryland home and Washington, D.C. office in August. A source familiar with the matter told NBC News that the searches were part of a “national security investigation seeking classified records.”

Lowell has repeatedly stated that the classified-marked documents in Bolton’s possession belonged to the George W. Bush administration, during which Bolton served as the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, and were typical of a long-time government employee.

CIA Director provided intelligence for search warrant

A source said CIA Director John Ratcliffe provided intelligence to FBI Director Kash Patel that formed the basis of the search warrant. The searches focused on how Bolton handled classified material and potential examples of such documents being used in media leaks, the source said at the time. The criminal investigation began during the Biden administration. Search warrant affidavits released last month cited possible Espionage Act violations, including unauthorized collection or sharing of national defense information and unauthorized possession of classified materials.

Trump calls for Bolton to be tried in 2020

Trump publicly called for Bolton to be prosecuted in June 2020 after the former national security adviser published a book critical of his experience working for Trump.

“He released a huge amount of classified, classified, but classified information. It’s illegal and you would go to jail for it,” Trump said in an interview on Fox News.

Bolton maintained that he had complied with legal obligations and received a 2020 letter from a National Security Council official stating that the book contained no classified material.

Trump was indicted in 2023 on charges of mishandling top-secret documents and obstructing recovery efforts after leaving office. Trump-appointed Federal Judge Aileen Cannon dismissed the charges in 2024.

Also read: Read the full indictment: New York Attorney General Letitia James faces federal bank fraud charges in East

John Bolton continues to be vocal critic of Trump on foreign policy

In the years since his contentious departure, Bolton has been an outspoken critic of Trump, particularly on foreign policy involving Russia. Bolton served as national security advisor during Trump’s first term.

Trump has repeatedly criticized Bolton, calling him “despicable” and “stupid,” among other descriptors.

Days into Trump’s second term, the president rescinded Bolton’s Secret Service details despite allegations that Bolton was targeted in a murder-for-hire plot by a member of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.

Third Trump critic to face federal charges since September

Bolton will be the third person to criticize Trump since late September.

Former FBI Director James Comey was indicted in late September on charges of making false statements to Congress and obstruction. New York Attorney General Letitia James was indicted on Thursday, October 9, on bank fraud charges.

Both indictments follow a Sept. 20 Truth Social post in which Trump urged Attorney General Pam Bondi to take action against Comey, James and Sen. Adam Schiff, D-Calif.

“They are all so guilty, but nothing will be done,” the post read. “We can’t delay it any longer.”

An administration official told NBC News that the public post was intended to send a direct message to Bondi.

Comey denied the accusations. James denied injustice.