NBC Nightly News with Tom Llamas Thursday, October 16, 2025
Oct 17, 2025
Former National Security Adviser John Bolton faces indictment for mishandling classified information, raising concerns over national security. President Trump is set to meet Vladimir Putin for critical Ukraine talks, potentially impacting future relations. A Pentagon shakeup sees a top admiral resign amid controversy over military actions. On a different note, massive storms devastate Alaska, prompting large-scale evacuations. Plus, the rise of AI-driven stock market bubbles sparks debate among investors, while a tragic increase in robocalls has consumers on high alert.
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Bolton Indicted Over Classified Notes
- John Bolton has been indicted on 18 counts for mishandling national defense information after FBI searches and allegations of emailing classified material to family.
- The case follows public calls from President Trump and continues a pattern of prosecutions of his critics noted in the episode.
How Prosecutors Say Bolton Recorded Secrets
- Laura Jarrett details prosecutors' claims that Bolton transcribed handwritten notes into Word and emailed diary-like entries to relatives.
- She also reports prosecutors say an Iran-associated actor later hacked Bolton's personal email to access that material.
Past Clearance Didn't Prevent New Charges
- Bolton says his published book contained no classified material and an earlier FBI probe during the Biden administration ended without charges.
- The new indictment shows prosecutions can be revisited later under changing political dynamics.