FROM THE HILL: Former national security adviser John Bolton pleaded not guilty Friday to his 18 criminal charges that accuse him of mishandling classified materials.
“Not guilty, your Honor,” Bolton said during a federal court appearance in Greenbelt, Md.
A federal grand jury a day earlier returned an indictment charging him with transmitting and retaining national defense information, over allegations he sent “diary-like entries” to two relatives about his day-to-day as Trump’s adviser and kept classified records at his home in a Maryland suburb after leaving the position.
Bolton arrived at the federal courthouse to surrender on Friday morning. Bolton said he had reviewed his indictment with his attorneys and understood the charges against him.
Bolton surrendered his passport to counsel and was ordered released.
He is scheduled to appear in court again on Nov. 21 before U.S. District Judge Theodore Chuang, the appointee of former President Obama randomly assigned to oversee his case.
🚨 BREAKING: Disgraced former National Security Advisor John Bolton pleads NOT GUILTY on all 18 counts related to improperly handling classified materials and violations of the ESPIONAGE ACT.
Does anybody really believe he's innocent?
Bolton did the walk of SHAME this morning,… pic.twitter.com/6bVJ8Ic0BS
— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) October 17, 2025
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