WASHINGTON: Former United States National Security Adviser John Bolton pleaded guilty in federal court on Friday to mishandling classified information, marking a dramatic turn for one of President Donald Trump’s most outspoken former advisers.
Appearing before US District Judge Theodore D. Chuang, the 77-year-old Bolton admitted to improperly retaining and sharing classified information. “I’m sorry for it,” he told the court during the hearing.
Under a plea agreement with federal prosecutors, Bolton faces a potential sentence ranging from probation to a maximum of five years in prison. Judge Chuang scheduled sentencing for October 28.
As part of the agreement, Bolton will pay a $2.25 million fine, with half due within five days of sentencing and the remainder within 90 days. He also agreed to complete up to 100 hours of community service, participate in a debriefing with intelligence and Justice Department officials, and forfeit his government pension.
Prosecutors accused Bolton of sharing more than 1,000 pages of diary-style notes containing sensitive national security information with two relatives while preparing material for his memoir. The notes included details from intelligence briefings and meetings with senior US officials and foreign leaders.
Bolton had previously pleaded not guilty to 18 criminal charges filed last year. However, prosecutors acknowledged during Friday’s hearing that none of the classified information was ultimately published in his 2020 memoir, The Room Where It Happened, which chronicled his time as Trump’s national security adviser and sharply criticized the president.
Authorities also noted that Bolton’s personal email account was later hacked by an individual believed to be linked to Iran, underscoring what prosecutors described as the security risks of handling classified information through personal accounts.
“He put our national security at grave risk,” Kelly O. Hayes, the US attorney for the District of Maryland, told reporters after the hearing.
Bolton served as national security adviser during Trump’s first term but later became one of the president’s most prominent critics, publicly describing him as unfit for office and fueling a prolonged political feud.
The case has drawn significant attention because Bolton is among several high-profile Trump critics who have faced prosecution during Trump’s second administration. However, unlike some other investigations involving political opponents, the inquiry into Bolton’s handling of classified information began before Trump returned to office in 2025 and was pursued with the support of career federal prosecutors.
The sentencing hearing is scheduled for October 28, when the court will determine whether Bolton receives prison time or a lesser punishment under the terms of the plea agreement.
