John Bolton vs Donald Trump: How the two indictments compare - A closer look

Former national security adviser John Bolton has been indicted over the handling of classified information, drawing comparisons to US President Donald Trump, who faced similar allegations in the past.Bolton, who served in the Trump administration for over a year before being fired in 2019, is accused of illegally sending classified information to two family members who did not have security clearances and of keeping copies of those messages at his Maryland home. The indictment follows an FBI search of Bolton’s Maryland residence and Washington office in August.Trump, meanwhile, was previously accused of unlawfully retaining classified documents after leaving the White House in January 2021 and obstructing government efforts to retrieve them from his Florida club and residence, Mar-a-Lago. That case was dismissed after Trump won the 2024 election.Both men were accused of handling classified data insecurely. Trump allegedly stored boxes of sensitive information in unsecured locations at Mar-a-Lago, including a bathroom and a ballroom stage, according to New York Times. Bolton is accused of transmitting classified material through personal email accounts and an encrypted messaging app that were not approved for sensitive information. One of Bolton’s email accounts was reportedly hacked by Iran in 2021.Both faced multiple counts of unauthorized retention of national defense information, with Trump charged with 38 counts and Bolton with eight. In both cases, prosecutors cited public statements made by Trump and Bolton criticizing others for mishandling classified information.Trump had previously criticized Hillary Clinton’s handling of classified information in 2016, while Bolton had criticized Trump officials in 2025 for discussing sensitive military plans on an unsecured messaging app. These statements were cited to show that both understood the rules regarding classified information.The cases also diverged in key ways. Trump faced additional obstruction charges, including allegations that he conspired to conceal documents and misled investigators. Bolton, in contrast, was charged with unauthorized transmission offenses for sharing information with relatives, but was not charged with obstruction.Another notable difference is the timing. Both men previously avoided certain legal consequences due to elections. Trump’s case was dismissed after his 2024 election victory, while an earlier investigation into Bolton’s handling of classified information in 2020 was dropped after the former President Joe Biden's administration took office in 2021.The news emerged as Trump spoke to reporters in the Oval Office. The president said he was unaware of the indictment and criticised Bolton, calling him a “bad person” and “a bad guy”.“I think he’s a bad person,” Trump said. “He’s a bad guy.” He added, “That’s the way it goes, right?” he said. Bolton is expected to surrender to federal authorities in Greenbelt, Maryland, as early as Friday, CNN reported.