John Bolton, former national security adviser, is expected to plead guilty to one count of illegally retaining classified documents. He has agreed to pay a fine exceeding $2 million and has a court hearing scheduled for June 26. Bolton previously pleaded not guilty to 18 charges.
John Bolton, former national security adviser to U.S. President Donald Trump and a vocal critic of the former president, is expected to plead guilty to one count of illegally retaining sensitive national security documents. As part of a plea agreement, Bolton has agreed to pay a fine exceeding $2 million. Court records indicate a hearing is scheduled for June 26 where Bolton is expected to enter a new plea. He had previously pleaded not guilty to 18 charges of mishandling classified information, filed in October 2025. The indictment alleged that Bolton shared sensitive information with two relatives for potential use in a book he was writing, including details from intelligence briefings and meetings with officials and foreign leaders. The charges were filed in federal court in Maryland and included counts related to the transmission and retention of national defense information under the Espionage Act. Bolton could not immediately be reached for comment.
This plea agreement represents a significant development in the ongoing legal scrutiny of individuals who handled classified information after leaving government service, potentially setting a precedent for similar cases.