John Bolton, the former national security adviser and outspoken critic of Donald Trump, is poised to be federally charged as early as next week, according to two U.S. officials familiar with the investigation. The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Maryland would bring the case, based on a probe into the handling of classified documents.
The impending indictment marks a significant escalation in the Justice Department’s actions against Trump critics. Bolton, if charged, would join former FBI Director James Comey and New York Attorney General Letitia James as the third high-profile opponent of the former president to face federal legal action in recent weeks.
The warrant-affiliated searches at Bolton’s Maryland residence and his Washington, D.C., office in August form the backbone of the investigation. Agents seized phones, folders labeled “Trump I–IV,” and a binder titled “statements and reflections to Allied Strikes,” among other materials. The filings reference potential violations of the Espionage Act, including unauthorized retention or dissemination of national defense information.
Lawyers for Bolton argue that these are routine archival records from his decades of public service. His attorney, Abbe Lowell, said, “Any thorough review will show nothing inappropriate was stored or kept by Amb. Bolton.”
Support for the search warrants came in part from intelligence passed from CIA Director John Ratcliffe to FBI Director Kash Patel. The investigation builds on a prior inquiry into Bolton’s 2020 book, The Room Where It Happened, which was reviewed prepublication, though the current probe appears broader in scope.
In August, the FBI executed court-approved raids on Bolton’s properties. He was not arrested and has not been charged yet.
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In september alone, Comey was indicted on false-statement and obstruction counts, and James was charged with bank fraud. Both prosecutions followed a public message Trump posted, urging the attorney general to take action.
If charges are filed, Bolton will become one of the most prominent critics of Trump to face federal litigation. A U.S. District Judge would oversee his case, and Bolton’s legal team is likely to challenge both the jurisdiction and the evidence underlying the search warrants.
The Justice Department has declined to comment on grand jury proceedings, citing standard policy. A spokesman said DOJ “will not discuss any grand jury matters” but reaffirmed that U.S. Attorneys have authority to pursue cases.
