The Department of Justice (DOJ) signaled Friday that former national security adviser John Bolton could face additional charges in his criminal case over allegedly mishandled classified documents.

Thomas Sullivan, the lead prosecutor on Bolton`s case, indicated at a hearing that "potential other charges" are a possibility as the government wades through the case material.

Bolton is accused of sending "diary-like entries" to relatives about his day-to-day work as President Trump`s adviser and keeping classified records at his home in a Maryland suburb of Washington, D.C., after leaving the position.

The material must be reviewed by the intelligence community before Bolton`s attorneys can see it themselves, prosecutors said.

Abbe Lowell, an attorney for Bolton, offhandedly referenced the possibility of new charges at the hearing, saying "maybe they`ll try to bring others - I hope not." The Hill has reached out for comment from Lowell.

A trial date has not yet been set, as the parties grapple with the drawn-out process for dealing with discovery that includes classified materials that could stretch until May.

U.S. District Judge Theodore Chuang, an appointee of former President Obama, agreed to an extended schedule for discovery and set at least one status conference for October, albeit begrudgingly, after pressing both prosecutors and Lowell over the lengthy timeline.

"I understand the sensitive nature here, but at the same time, this is a criminal case," the judge said.

Chuang questioned whether the Justice Department had been adequately prepared to indict Bolton, suggesting that a "good prosecutor" would have discovery ready the day that charges are filed.

But prosecutors explained that the intelligence community had much to parse, in addition to a "filter team" intended to separate out material that may be attorney-client privileged.

Lowell acknowledged this is "not the typical" Espionage Act case and said the defense had agreed to the timeline laid out, though the defense might return to the judge if the process dragged on too long.

Bolton, who frequently criticized Trump after leaving the administration position, did not attend Friday`s hearing. He has pleaded not guilty and portrayed his prosecution as the result of Trump`s retribution campaign against his political enemies.

The Justice Department has also recently charged former FBI Director James Comey and New York Attorney General Letitia James (D) and is investigating other Trump foes.