John Bolton Pleads Guilty to Classified Documents Charges

Former National Security Adviser John Bolton entered a guilty plea on Friday regarding charges linked to possessing classified documents.

This plea is part of a deal Bolton reached with the Department of Justice. He served as national security adviser during President Donald Trump’s initial term. According to reports, Bolton is set to pay a fine of $2.25 million and could potentially face up to five years in prison.

Back in October 2025, a federal grand jury indicted Bolton on 18 different counts, which included transmitting national defense information and unlawfully possessing classified documents.

The plea deal, drafted earlier in June, was approved by U.S. District Judge Theodore D. Chuan during a hearing in a Maryland federal court.

When asked about his guilt, Bolton reportedly responded, “I’m honored. I’m sorry,” as recorded by the media.

The indictment claimed Bolton used personal emails to disperse “more than 1,000 pages of information about his daily activities,” although he pleaded guilty to different charges.

Sentencing is scheduled for October 28.

Bolton was initially a vocal Trump supporter and was rumored to be a candidate for Secretary of State before being appointed as Trump’s third national security adviser in 2018.

While in office, Bolton often found himself at odds with Trump, resulting in significant disagreements. His tenure lasted less than a year and a half, during which he reportedly sought to undermine efforts like the Camp David conference and a potential agreement with the Taliban, as mentioned in various reports.

After he announced his resignation in September 2019, Trump stated: “Last night, I informed Mr. John Bolton that his services in the White House are no longer needed.”

Additionally, Trump remarked that he, along with others in his administration, strongly disagreed with many of Bolton’s proposals, leading to his resignation.

Prosecutors highlighted that Bolton maintained handwritten notes that resembled a diary. The indictment alleges he shared confidential information with unauthorized individuals, and there were claims that his emails were hacked by cyber attackers with ties to Iran.