John Bolton, former national security adviser under President Donald Trump, pleaded guilty on Friday (June 26) to retaining national security information. This plea is part of a deal with federal prosecutors, which could allow him to avoid a prison sentence. The plea agreement suggests a maximum sentence of five years, but the final decision rests with U.S. District Judge Theodore Chuang, who will sentence Bolton on October 28 in Greenbelt, Maryland.
Bolton was initially charged with 18 counts of retaining or disseminating classified information. These charges included sharing diary-like notes with family members while writing a memoir about his government career. The investigation began before President Trump returned to office in January 2025. In August, FBI agents searched Bolton’s home and office, leading to his indictment in October 2025.
The plea deal requires Bolton to pay a fine of over $2 million. If the judge imposes a longer sentence or a higher fine, Bolton may withdraw his guilty plea. His lawyer, Abbe Lowell, has stated that the charges stem from personal diaries shared only with Bolton’s immediate family and known to the FBI since 2021.
Bolton, who became a critic of President Trump after leaving the administration in 2019, was the third Trump critic indicted by the Justice Department last fall. Other cases against Trump adversaries have faced legal challenges, with some being dismissed. Despite this, Bolton chose not to mount a strong defense, opting instead to reach a plea agreement.
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