Federal prosecutors in Maryland have indicted former Trump national security adviser John Bolton for his alleged mishandling of classified documents, ABC News reports.
CNN’s Katelyn Polantz reported Tuesday that prosecutors from the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Maryland met over the weekend to hammer out the details of a potential indictment. Citing unnamed sources, Polantz reported that the Maryland team had initially pushed back against DOJ leadership’s push to charge Bolton, but those objections have now “lifted,” and the team is “at work” on the case. (RELATED: DOJ Opens Criminal Investigation Into John Bolton, Docs Show)
Appearing on CNN’s The Situation Room with anchor Pamela Brown, Polantz explained that the disagreement was “about when to charge” Bolton — suggesting that some inside the DOJ were concerned about timing rather than substance. (RELATED: FBI Raids John Bolton’s Home In Classified Documents Probe)
“From what I had learned through sources,” Polantz said, “was that the dispute was over timing — whether to charge John Bolton very soon or prepare an indictment very soon to take it through the grand jury, or whether there needed to be more time since those searches of his home and office only took place a couple of weeks ago.”
In late August, FBI agents raided Bolton’s Maryland home and private office, seizing materials reportedly marked “secret,” “confidential,” and “classified,” including documents referencing weapons of mass destruction. Investigators also collected electronics and files labeled “Trump I–IV,” according to court filings.
Bolton — who has been a vocal Trump critic since leaving the administration — has firmly denied any wrongdoing.
This is a breaking news story. Please check back for updates.
