John Bolton, Former Trump National Security Adviser, Pleads Guilty to Mishandling Classified Information

Greenbelt, Maryland (June 26, 2026) - John Bolton, who served as national security adviser during President Donald Trump's first term before becoming one of his sharpest critics, pleaded guilty Friday to one count of unlawful retention of national defense information in federal court.

Bolton entered the plea before U.S. District Judge Theodore Chuang as part of a deal with the Justice Department that resolves an 18-count indictment handed up last October. The original charges included eight counts of unlawful transmission and 10 counts of unlawful retention of national defense information under the Espionage Act.

According to prosecutors, Bolton retained sensitive materials - including notes and diary entries from his White House tenure - some classified as high as "Top Secret." He allegedly shared more than 1,000 pages with family members who lacked security clearances and kept classified documents at his Maryland home. The case reportedly came to light after suspected Iranian hackers accessed his personal email.

Under the plea agreement, Bolton faces up to 60 months in prison (the government will not seek more than five years), a $2.25 million fine (with half due shortly after sentencing), forfeiture of his federal pension, 100 hours of community service related to preventing unlawful disclosures of classified information, and a requirement to debrief officials on the retained materials. Sentencing is scheduled for October 28, 2026. Judge Chuang has final discretion over the sentence.

In court, Bolton acknowledged his guilt, stating, "I am your honor and I'm sorry for it." His attorney, Abbe Lowell, emphasized that Bolton chose to take responsibility rather than risk a trial that could expose additional sensitive information.

A DOJ spokesperson addressed the resolution outside the courthouse, noting that Bolton "put our national security at grave risk in violation of the law," as shown in footage accompanying reports of the plea.

Bolton, 77, served as national security adviser from 2018 to 2019. He later authored a book critical of Trump and testified during the former president's first impeachment trial. The case against him spanned both the Trump and Biden administrations and drew attention for its irony, given Bolton's past public calls for strict accountability in similar classified documents matters.

This marks a significant development in high-profile prosecutions involving former officials and classified materials. Bolton remains free pending sentencing.