John Bolton, who served as national security adviser during Donald Trump’s first term before becoming one of his most outspoken critics, is preparing to plead guilty to a single federal count of retaining classified national security information. The plea is scheduled for June 26 in federal court in Maryland, according to multiple national outlets reporting on the agreement.
The case centers on diary‑like notes Bolton kept during his time in the Trump administration. Prosecutors say the entries included sensitive national defense information that he later shared with two relatives while preparing a memoir. The Justice Department originally charged him with 18 counts, including both transmission and retention of classified material, before negotiating the single‑count resolution.
Bolton is expected to pay a $2.25 million fine as part of the agreement. Sentencing guidelines in the deal range from no prison time to a maximum of five years, though the final decision rests with the judge. Sources familiar with the case emphasize that Bolton is not accused of taking home marked classified documents or sharing information with foreign adversaries.
The investigation became public in August 2025 when FBI agents executed search warrants at Bolton’s Maryland home and Washington office. Prosecutors allege that over a seven‑year span, Bolton kept more than 1,000 pages of notes and writings that included classified information. Bolton has maintained that his published memoir did not contain classified material, but he has agreed to accept responsibility for the retention of sensitive information in his personal notes.
The plea deal marks a significant moment in a series of prosecutions brought during Trump’s current term against figures who have publicly criticized him. Bolton, who once shaped the administration’s foreign policy, has since become a persistent opponent of Trump’s approach to global affairs. His decision to plead guilty closes a high‑profile case that has hovered over the political landscape for more than a year.
Sources
- U.S. News & World Report
- Associated Press
- NBC News
- ABC News
- CBS News
- USA Today