John Bolton Reaches Plea Deal Over Mishandling Classified Information
Former Trump national security adviser John Bolton has agreed to plead guilty to a single count of retaining classified information, resolving an 18-count indictment. Under the deal, he faces up to 60 months in prison and a $2.25 million fine, with a change-of-plea hearing scheduled for June 26.
The Agreement
Former Trump national security adviser John Bolton has agreed to plead guilty to a single count of retaining classified information contained in a private diary entry, according to multiple sources. The plea deal calls for up to 60 months in jail and a $2.25 million fine, marking a significant resolution to a case that had threatened Bolton with decades in prison.
Background and Charges
The deal would resolve a criminal case filed in October that charged Bolton with 18 counts of either retaining or disseminating classified information, including diary-like notes from his time in government that officials say he shared with his family members as he was preparing a memoir about his time in office. Bolton shared "more than a thousand pages of his day-to-day activities as the National Security Advisor — including information relating to the national defense which was classified up to the TOP SECRET/SCI level — with two unauthorized individuals" who were his wife and daughter, and neither had security clearances.
The Context
The case against Bolton, filed weeks after prosecutors secured indictments against former FBI Director James Comey and New York Attorney General Letitia James, unfolded against the backdrop of concerns that the Justice Department was using its law enforcement powers to pursue perceived adversaries of President Donald Trump. Bolton, who served as President Donald Trump's national security adviser before becoming an ardent critic of the president, was seen by many as an early target of Trump's campaign to weaponize the Justice Department against his political enemies.
What Happens Next
A rearraignment, which typically signals a plea agreement, is scheduled for June 26 in federal court in Greenbelt, Maryland. The plea deal represents a dramatic shift from Bolton's October 2025 appearance when he initially pleaded not guilty to all charges.