John Bolton Pleads Guilty to Mishandling Classified Documents

John Bolton, the former National Security Advisor under President Donald Trump, pleaded guilty on Friday in federal court to mishandling classified documents. Bolton, who has been a vocal critic of Trump, was indicted on 18 counts related to the improper handling of classified materials but initially entered a not guilty plea.

During the hearing in Greenbelt, Maryland, before Judge Theodore D. Chuang, Bolton admitted to a single charge of illegal retention of classified information. The documents he retained included diary entries containing national defense information, some classified at the top secret level. As part of his plea agreement, Bolton has agreed to pay a fine of $2.25 million, with half of that amount due within five days of sentencing and the remainder within 90 days.

Bolton faces a potential prison sentence of up to five years; however, the plea deal may mitigate the likelihood of incarceration. After the judge outlined the allegations, which included sending sensitive diary entries to family members, Bolton acknowledged the accusations, stating, "I did your honor," and expressed remorse for his actions.

Bolton was dismissed from his position in the Trump administration in 2019. His memoir, "The Room Where It Happened," published in 2020, detailed his experiences in the White House and included claims of Trump seeking retribution against him. Bolton's sentencing is scheduled for October 28, 2026.