The classified documents case against John Bolton
Gone quiet · last story Jun 26, 2026
What this arc covers
The case against John Bolton, Trump's former national security adviser: the FBI's August 2025 search of his home, its finding of classified documents, his October indictment on charges of mishandling classified information, and his not-guilty plea.
Earliest story we hold Aug 22, 2025 · 9 stories · 86 independent sources (counted once each) · 308 days
Part ofJohn BoltonDonald TrumpFederal Bureau of InvestigationUnited States Department of JusticeMaryland
Where it standsnewest first · each bar runs left to right by leaning
Jun 26– 282026Former Trump adviser John Bolton pleads guilty to mishandling sensitive documents23 articles · 8 independent sources3 left, 2 center, 2 right
Jun 26– 272026Ex-national security adviser John Bolton pleads guilty to illegally retaining classified information62 articles · 41 independent sources8 left, 11 center, 7 right
Jun 42026John Bolton set to plead guilty in classified documents case: report60 articles · 38 independent sources5 left, 12 center, 11 right
Key momentsthe most covered; every story is below
- Aug 22 – 23, 2025FBI searches home of ex-Trump national security adviser John Bolton90 articles · 58 independent sources
- Oct 16 – 17, 2025John Bolton Indicted Over Classified Material79 articles · 44 independent sources
- Oct 16 – 17, 2025Ex-Trump national security adviser Bolton charged in probe of mishandling of classified information24 articles · 18 independent sources
- Jun 4, 2026John Bolton set to plead guilty in classified documents case: report60 articles · 38 independent sources
- Jun 26 – 27, 2026Ex-national security adviser John Bolton pleads guilty to illegally retaining classified information62 articles · 41 independent sources
Who covered it, over timeindependent sources per week, by side
Aug 18Oct 20Dec 22Feb 16Apr 20Jun 22
LeftCenterRight
Point at or tap a week to see its count by side.
Every week as a table
| Week of | Left | Center | Right | Articles |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 18, 2025 | 9 | 19 | 14 | 86 |
| Sep 1, 2025 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 9 |
| Sep 22, 2025 | 1 | 3 | 6 | 12 |
| Oct 13, 2025 | 13 | 21 | 12 | 109 |
| Jun 1, 2026 | 5 | 12 | 11 | 57 |
| Jun 22, 2026 | 11 | 12 | 8 | 81 |
Stories before June 28, 2026 come from archived pages, so who covered them is limited to the outlets we recovered for that period.
29% left · 49% center · 22% right of 86 independent sources among the outlets we track, across 9 stories.
Every storyoldest first
August 2025
Aug 22– 23FBI searches home of ex-Trump national security adviser John Bolton90 articles · 58 independent sources9 left, 19 center, 14 rightSeptember 2025
Sep 4FBI seized phones, computer equipment, folders during search of Bolton’s home, records show10 articles · 10 independent sources1 left, 3 center, 3 right- Sep 24FBI Says It Found Classified Documents in John Bolton's O...12 articles · 12 independent sources1 left, 3 center, 6 right
October 2025
Oct 16– 17John Bolton Indicted Over Classified Material79 articles · 44 independent sources10 left, 15 center, 11 right- Oct 16– 17Ex-Trump national security adviser Bolton charged in probe of mishandling of classified information24 articles · 18 independent sources1 left, 4 center, 1 right
- Oct 17John Bolton pleads not guilty to mishandling classified information in US16 articles · 14 independent sources2 left, 6 center, 3 right
June 2026
Jun 4John Bolton set to plead guilty in classified documents case: report60 articles · 38 independent sources5 left, 12 center, 11 right- Jun 26– 27Ex-national security adviser John Bolton pleads guilty to illegally retaining classified information62 articles · 41 independent sources8 left, 11 center, 7 right
- Jun 26– 28Former Trump adviser John Bolton pleads guilty to mishandling sensitive documents23 articles · 8 independent sources3 left, 2 center, 2 right