Former national security adviser John Bolton pleaded guilty Friday to illegally retaining classified national defense information, reaching an agreement with federal prosecutors that could spare him from serving prison time.
Bolton, a prominent figure in President Donald Trump’s first administration who later became a vocal critic of the president, entered the plea in federal court in Maryland. He is scheduled to be sentenced on Oct. 28 by U.S. District Judge Theodore Chuang in Greenbelt.
Plea
Bolton, 77, of Bethesda, Maryland, pleaded guilty to a single count of illegally retaining national defense information. The charge carries a maximum possible sentence of 10 years in prison.
Under the plea agreement with the Justice Department, prosecutors recommend capping any prison sentence at five years, though the judge is not required to follow that recommendation. Bolton can withdraw his guilty plea if the court imposes a longer sentence or a higher fine than agreed upon.
Bolton also agreed to pay a $2.25 million fine, forfeiting his federal retirement pay as part of the deal.
Terms
Court records show Bolton must pay half of the fine within five days of entering his plea, with the remaining balance due within 90 days. He also agreed to submit to a debriefing with federal intelligence officials and complete up to 100 hours of community service.
After a prosecutor summarized the facts of the case in court, Bolton acknowledged their accuracy and addressed the judge directly.
“I’m sorry for it,” Bolton said.
Statements
Defense attorney Abbe Lowell said Bolton accepted responsibility rather than fighting the case.
“He did what real leaders do,” Lowell said in a statement. “He took responsibility for a mistake he made, thereby saving the government resources to pursue a case that could expose additional sensitive information.”
Maryland’s top federal prosecutor, U.S. Attorney Kelly O. Hayes, said Bolton fully understood the rules governing classified material.
“He also knew the damage to national security that could be caused by mishandling that sensitive information,” Hayes said. “Nevertheless, he put our national security at grave risk in violation of the law.”
Case
Bolton was originally charged in October with 18 counts related to retaining or disseminating classified information. Prosecutors said the case centered on diary-style notes he kept while serving as national security adviser and later shared with family members as he worked on a memoir.
According to court filings, Bolton shared more than 1,000 pages of notes with his wife and daughter. There is no evidence they passed the information on to anyone else.
In one exchange cited by prosecutors, Bolton wrote to relatives after sending a document, “None of which we talk about!!!” One family member replied, “Shhhhh.”
Investigation
FBI agents searched Bolton’s Maryland home and Washington, D.C., office last August. Prosecutors said the investigation began before Trump returned to the White House in January 2025.
Court documents also revealed that after Bolton left government service, a hacker linked to Iran accessed classified material from his personal email account. Bolton directed a representative to notify U.S. officials about the breach in 2021.
Background
Bolton served as national security adviser for more than a year before leaving the Trump administration in 2019. He later published The Room Where It Happened, a memoir critical of Trump’s leadership.
The Trump administration unsuccessfully attempted to block the book’s release, arguing it contained classified information. Trump later publicly criticized Bolton, calling him a reckless warmonger.
Unlike other politically charged cases involving Trump adversaries, Bolton did not aggressively contest the charges and instead chose to resolve the case through a plea agreement.
Judge Chuang will decide Bolton’s final sentence later this year.
FAQs
What did John Bolton plead guilty to?
Illegally retaining classified national defense information.
Will Bolton go to prison?
Possibly, but the plea deal may allow him to avoid prison.
How much is Bolton’s fine?
He agreed to pay a $2.25 million fine.
When is Bolton’s sentencing?
He is scheduled to be sentenced on Oct. 28.
What information was involved in the case?
Diary-style classified notes shared with family members.
