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DOJ Says Additional Charges Possible Against John Bolton in Classified-Documents Case

Key points: The DOJ told a judge that John Bolton could face additional charges as prosecutors and intelligence agencies review seized materials in a classified-documents investigation. A filter team is screening records for privilege, and the intelligence community must clear certain items before the defense can access them. Judge Theodore Chuang approved an extended discovery timeline through May and set a status conference for October while questioning the department’s preparedness. Bolton has pleaded not guilty and says the prosecution is politically motivated.

02:32 AM, 11/22/2025Politics

The Department of Justice told a federal court Friday that former national security adviser John Bolton could face additional charges as prosecutors and intelligence agencies continue reviewing materials seized in an investigation into allegedly mishandled classified documents.

At a hearing, lead prosecutor Thomas Sullivan told the judge that “potential other charges” remain possible while the government parses case materials. Prosecutors say Bolton wrote what they describe as “diary-like entries” to relatives about his day-to-day work as an adviser to President Trump and retained classified records at his Maryland home after leaving the administration.

Prosecutors said material recovered in the investigation must be reviewed by the intelligence community before Bolton’s attorneys are granted access. A separate “filter team” is also screening documents to identify any communications that might be protected by attorney-client privilege.

Court schedule, judge’s concerns

U.S. District Judge Theodore Chuang, an appointee of former President Obama, agreed to an extended discovery schedule and set at least one status conference for October. Prosecutors told the court the review of classified material could extend discovery through May. The judge pressed both sides over the lengthy timeline, saying, “I understand the sensitive nature here, but at the same time, this is a criminal case.”

Chuang questioned whether the Justice Department had been fully prepared when the indictment was filed, suggesting that a “good prosecutor” would have discovery organized at the outset. Prosecutors answered that the intelligence community has a large volume of material to sift through and that the filter team must separate potentially privileged documents before defense counsel can see them.

At the hearing, defense attorney Abbe Lowell conceded the government might pursue additional charges, saying, “maybe they’ll try to bring others — I hope not.” He also acknowledged that the defense agreed to the proposed timeline but reserved the right to seek relief if the process becomes unduly prolonged.

Bolton, who has frequently criticized Mr. Trump since leaving the White House, did not attend the hearing. He has pleaded not guilty and characterized the prosecution as part of a retribution campaign against political opponents. The filing and discovery schedule remain subject to further court oversight as the intelligence community and defense counsel continue their reviews.

The hearing also came amid broader political and legal scrutiny: the Justice Department has recently pursued cases involving other high-profile figures and is examining a range of matters involving critics of the former president.

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DOJ Says Additional Charges Possible Against John Bolton in Classified-Documents Case - CRBC News