The Justice Department is poised to request a federal grand jury in Maryland indict John Bolton, former national security adviser to President Donald Trump, on charges related to the alleged unlawful handling of classified information, according to multiple sources familiar with the matter.
The anticipated move, set for Thursday, emerges as part of a broader pattern of prosecutions targeting Trump's political adversaries, intensifying scrutiny on the department's operations under his administration.
The probe into Bolton centers on notes he composed for personal use during his tenure in the White House, including summaries of his activities formatted like diary entries, which were stored in an AOL email account.
Federal Bureau of Investigation agents conducted searches this summer at Bolton's residence in Maryland and his office in Washington, D.C., seizing documents marked as secret, confidential, and classified.
Among the materials recovered were records pertaining to weapons of mass destruction, as detailed in court filings tied to the search warrants.
Bolton's legal representative, Abbe Lowell, has maintained that the former official engaged in no improper conduct with classified records.
Additionally, the investigation has scrutinized whether Bolton's assistants accessed these notes after his departure from the administration in 2019.
Complicating matters, a redacted U.S. intelligence assessment revealed that Bolton's AOL email was compromised by a foreign adversary, raising concerns over potential unauthorized disclosures.
The case invokes the Espionage Act, where prosecutors weigh factors such as willful mishandling, volume of sensitive materials, indications of disloyalty, and any efforts to obstruct justice.
Bolton, a veteran government figure with top-secret clearance who previously served as U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, has long been recognized for his meticulous documentation habits.
His vocal criticisms of Trump, including rebukes over the handling of classified documents at Mar-a-Lago, have positioned him as a persistent critic since leaving office.
This development unfolds against a charged backdrop for the Justice Department, which faces unprecedented influence from Trump to advance cases against perceived foes.
In recent instances, U.S. Attorney Lindsey Halligan in Virginia secured indictments against former FBI Director James Comey and New York Attorney General Letitia James, despite resistance from seasoned prosecutors.
Simultaneously, on the international front, President Trump is scheduled to converse with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday, just ahead of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy's White House visit.
Zelenskiy aims to advocate for enhanced military aid amid the intensifying war, where Russia recently unleashed over 300 drones and 37 missiles targeting Ukrainian infrastructure in overnight assaults.
These strikes, focusing on energy and gas facilities, mark the fourth year of conflict and coincide with NATO's challenges in countering Russian aerial violations.
Ukraine presses for U.S. Tomahawk missiles to extend its reach toward major Russian urban centers.
Trump, who pledged to resolve the war, has voiced growing exasperation with Putin's persistent offensives and indicated willingness to provide such weaponry should negotiations falter.