Former National Security Advisor (NSA) John Bolton has officially surrendered to authorities. 

This, according to Breitbart News, took place on Friday, not long after he was indicted by a federal grand jury on charges relating to the mishandling of classified information.

Bolton, as we will see, is trying to claim that the charges have no legitimate basis.

President Trump 47 News Community https://t.co/q99wthRw1x

— Commentary Donald J. Trump Posts From Truth Social (@TrumpDailyPosts) October 17, 2025

The indictment:

Fox News reports that Bolton was indicted on no less than 18 felony counts.

Per the outlet:

Former White House National Security Advisor John Bolton was indicted Thursday on 18 counts related to the improper handling of classified materials, Fox News Digital has learned. According to the indictment, Bolton was indicted on eight counts of transmission of National Defense Information and ten counts of retention of National Defense information.

The outlet goes on to quote part of the indictment.

It reads:

From on or about April 9, 2018, through at least on or about August 22, 2025, BOLTON abused his position as National Security Advisor by sharing more than a thousand pages of information about his day-to-day activities as the National Security Advisor—including information relating to the national defense which was classified up to the TOP SECRET/SCI level—with two unauthorized individuals, namely Individuals 1 and 2," the indictment reads. "BOLTON also unlawfully retained documents, writings, and notes relating to the national defense, including information classified up to the TOP SECRET/SCI level, in his home in Montgomery County, Maryland.

Fox goes on to provide more details from the indictment, and, at first glance, it is not looking so good for Bolton.

Bolton officially surrenders

Unlike with some of the other indictments we have seen, Bolton did not take long in surrendering to the authorities.

Breitbart reports:

Former National Security Advisor (NSA) John Bolton surrendered to authorities Friday . . . Bolton was silent as he entered the courthouse where he is expected to make an initial appearance before a judge on the 18-count indictment brought against him 24-hours earlier.

Bolton did make that appearance, and he pleaded "not guilty."

Bolton is now trying to claim that Trump is weaponizing the government against him. In one statement, he said:

These charges are not just about his focus on me or my diaries, but [Trump's] intensive effort to intimidate his opponents, to ensure that he alone determines what is said about his conduct.

We'll have to see if the criminal justice system agrees.