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2d ago

John Bolton Pleads Not Guilty to 18 Espionage Act Counts in Maryland Court

Prosecutors base the case on a 2022 probe into classified diary entries shared outside secure channels.

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John Bolton, former US national security adviser, arrives at the US district courthouse in Greenbelt, Maryland, US, on Friday, Oct. 17, 2025. The US Justice Department on Thursday charged John Bolton, a former national security adviser to President Donald Trump during his first term, with allegedly mishandling classified materials. Photographer: Eric Lee/Bloomberg
Former Trump administration national security adviser John Bolton, left, arrives for his arraignment at the Greenbelt Federal Courthouse in Greenbelt, Md., Friday, Oct. 17, 2025. (AP Photo/Rod Lamkey, Jr.)
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Overview

  • Bolton surrendered in Greenbelt on Oct. 17, entered a not‑guilty plea, and was released on his own recognizance with a hearing set for Nov. 21.
  • The indictment charges eight counts of transmitting national defense information and 10 counts of unlawful retention, each carrying potential penalties of up to 10 years.
  • FBI searches of his Maryland home and Washington, D.C., office in August recovered records marked classified and electronic evidence of the messages.
  • Prosecutors say more than 1,000 pages of diary‑like notes, including material up to TOP SECRET/SCI, were sent to two relatives using nongovernmental email and messaging accounts.
  • The filing cites intelligence about a suspected Iran‑linked breach of Bolton’s personal email; Bolton and attorney Abbe Lowell deny wrongdoing and allege political motivation.