JUST IN: John Bolton Enters Plea in Classified Documents Case

Tom Durante Oct 17th, 2025, 11:39 am

(Rod Lamkey Jr./AP photo)

John Bolton , former national security adviser and vocal critic of President Donald Trump , has pleaded not guilty in the classified documents case as he appeared in court for the first time on Friday.

Bolton surrendered to authorities earlier Friday to face Espionage Act charges over his alleged mishandling of classified information.

The 26-page, 18-count indictment, filed in federal court in Maryland on Thursday, accuses Bolton of transmitting and retaining highly sensitive material, including diary entries he shared with two unnamed individuals while he served in the White House.

Prosecutors say the notes “described in detail Bolton’s daily activitie

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