Former national security adviser John Bolton has pleaded not guilty to multiple charges related to the mishandling of classified material. The plea was entered on Friday, March 15, 2024, at a federal courthouse in Maryland. The US Justice Department announced an 18-count indictment against Bolton, a former aide to President Donald Trump, which outlines serious allegations of violating laws governing the transmission and retention of national defense information.
The indictment, made public on March 14, 2024, claims that Bolton’s alleged misconduct occurred between April 2018 and August 2025. Prosecutors assert that he “abused his position as National Security Adviser” by sharing over a thousand pages of sensitive information related to his role. A spokeswoman for Bolton’s legal team confirmed his not guilty plea during the court appearance.
Details of the Indictment
According to the indictment, Bolton is accused of sending “diary-like entries” containing top-secret information to two unnamed individuals, who were identified as being related to him. Some of this information was allegedly transmitted through personal email accounts hosted by AOL and Google. The documents in question reportedly included details on covert action plans, human intelligence derived from sensitive sources, and intelligence concerning foreign leaders.
In a statement, Pam Bondi, the Attorney General, emphasized the importance of accountability, stating, “Anyone who abuses a position of power and jeopardizes our national security will be held accountable. No one is above the law.”
Bolton’s defense lawyer, Abbe Lowell, maintains that his client did not break any laws. He stated that the documents involved personal diaries and other unclassified records. “The underlying facts in this case were investigated and resolved years ago,” Lowell said, expressing confidence in Bolton’s defense.
Allegations and Investigations
The indictment indicates that Bolton communicated sensitive information in a group chat, where he reportedly told one of the recipients, “For Diary in the future!!!” The FBI executed searches of Bolton’s home and Washington office in August 2023, uncovering items marked as classified and confidential. The search revealed documents concerning weapons of mass destruction, US missions to the United Nations, and strategic government communications.
While Trump has publicly criticized Bolton, labeling him “a bad person,” the nature of the allegations against Bolton differs significantly from those faced by other former officials. For instance, former FBI director James Comey has been indicted for allegedly lying to lawmakers, while New York Attorney General Letitia James faces accusations related to mortgage fraud. Both Comey and James have denied the allegations and are prepared to contest them in court.
After the discovery of classified documents during the search of Bolton’s office, Lowell reiterated that an “objective and thorough review will show nothing inappropriate was stored or kept by Ambassador Bolton.” He noted that many of the materials had previously been reviewed during a pre-publication process for Bolton’s book.
The case against Bolton, officially titled US v Bolton, 25-cr-314, will proceed in the US District Court for the District of Maryland, located in Greenbelt. As the legal proceedings unfold, Bolton’s defense team is expected to challenge the allegations vigorously.
