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The indictment in Greenbelt, Md., federal court alleges that Bolton sent sensitive national security documents through a personal AOL email account and knowingly transmitted materials to outside contacts while serving in the first Trump administration.
The indictment alleges that Bolton, 76, used email and various messaging apps to send documents classified as high as "top secret" that revealed intelligence about future attacks, foreign adversaries and international relations.
At least some of the communications on his AOL account were exposed when a bad actor believed to have been linked to Iran hacked Bolton's email, according to the indictment.
Bolton served as President Trump's national security adviser from April 2018 until his firing in September 2019. Upon leaving office, he pledged that he did not have any classified documents or notes in his possession.
However, those communications — some of which stayed on his AOL account — were exposed to bad actors when a foreign entity hacked Bolton's email, according to a probable cause warrant unsealed last month.
Bolton faces up to 10 years in prison on each count of the indictment.
The news came as Trump was taking questions from reporters in the Oval Office. Asked for comment, he said he was unaware of the indictment, but called Bolton a "bad guy."
Attorney General Pam Bondi said the indictment showed that "there is one tier of justice for all Americans."
"Anyone who abuses a position of power and jeopardizes our national security will be held accountable," she said in a statement. "No one is above the law."
FBI Director Kash Patel, who led the investigation, said agents "followed the facts without fear or favor."
Federal agents searched Bolton's Maryland home and Washington, DC, office on Aug. 22 in connection with the long-running investigation, which FBI sources told The Post was mysteriously "shelved" during the administration of Trump's predecessor, former President Joe Biden.
During those searches, FBI investigators retrieved documents related to weapons of mass destruction, the US mission to the United Nations, strategic government communications and secret travel memos, according to court records.
Even if Bolton had no intention of releasing the information, he could be held liable if sensitive documents were left lying around where others could get to it — a legal provision that applies to his personal email account as well.
Investigators were told to look for software or viruses that would allow an outsider access to Bolton's electronics — as well as whether the former US ambassador to the United Nations had installed security software to detect malware, according to a search warrant.
It's unclear whether any such programs were found.
The Senior Justice Department officials previously told The Post they suspected the Biden administration shelved the investigation to protect the Trump critic.
"Weaponization of justice will not be tolerated, and this FBI will stop at nothing to bring to justice anyone who threatens our national security," Patel said in the joint statement with Bondi.
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