Former Trump aide John Bolton pleads guilty to mishandling classified information

Former National Security Adviser John Bolton has pleaded guilty to unauthorized possession of national defense documents. Notably, he shared over 1,000 pages of emails containing classified information with family members who weren’t authorized to see them. Prosecutors are seeking a five-year prison term along with a $2.25 million fine since his emails had been hacked by a foreign adversary.

On Friday, President Trump mocked Bolton following his admission of mishandling classified documents. Earlier in the day, Bolton admitted guilt in a U.S. District Court in Greenbelt, Maryland, as part of a deal that would see 17 other counts dropped during sentencing. Their relationship has soured since a public fallout in 2019, made worse by Bolton’s critical memoir.

In a post on Truth Social, Trump called Bolton “very stupid,” saying he was “a madman who just wanted to cause trouble and war.” Trump also expressed hopes for a harsh consequence for Bolton.

At 77, Bolton is set to be sentenced on October 28. Under the plea deal, he faces significant penalties, including a $2.25 million fine and the possibility of five years in prison. His defense team is optimistic he may avoid incarceration.

After leaving office, Bolton retained classified information, including top-secret documents. Reports indicate he not only kept over 1,000 pages of memos regarding his daily tasks but also communicated some of the details with his family using personal email.

Federal prosecutors have highlighted that the documents contained sensitive information regarding covert operations and military threats. The FBI’s investigation concluded Bolton intentionally mishandled classified materials.

Bolton served as Trump’s National Security Adviser from April 2018 until September 2019. The two have had a fraught relationship since Bolton’s departure, with Trump claiming he fired him and Bolton stating he resigned.

Things worsened further with the release of Bolton’s memoir, “The Room Where It Happened,” which heavily criticized Trump. The Trump administration attempted unsuccessfully to prevent the book’s publication, alleging it contained classified content. However, Bolton was not charged related to those claims.

Bolton’s attorney praised his decision to plead guilty, indicating it showed accountability. She claimed it was a responsible move that would save government resources, contrasting him with Trump, whom she accused of flaunting the law and failing to take responsibility for his actions. Bolton was left to manage his records to preserve history, while Trump allegedly kept secrets for himself.