John Bolton, the former US national security adviser who became a vocal critic of Donald Trump, pleaded guilty on Friday to a charge of mishandling classified information. The plea, entered in a federal court in Greenbelt, Maryland, could result in a prison sentence of up to five years, though probation remains a possibility under the terms of a plea deal with prosecutors.
Details of the Guilty Plea
Bolton admitted to using a personal email address and a messaging app to share over 1,000 pages of diary-style notes containing national security information with two close relatives—later revealed to be his wife and daughter—who lacked security clearance. The notes were intended for his memoir, The Room Where It Happened, published in 2020 despite White House and Justice Department efforts to block it on national security grounds. The information was later compromised by a hacker linked to the Iranian government, a breach Bolton reported to authorities.
Plea Deal and Sentencing
Under the original indictment, Bolton faced 18 charges, each carrying a potential 10-year sentence. The plea deal reduced the seriousness of the accusations, with sentencing scheduled for 28 October before US District Judge Theodore Chuang. Bolton has also agreed to pay a $2.25 million fine. The deal is believed to carry a sentence ranging from probation to a maximum of five years in prison.
Political Context and Reactions
Bolton, who served as national security adviser for one year before being fired in 2019, has accused Trump of pursuing him as part of a retribution agenda against political opponents. The investigation began during Trump's first administration and intensified under President Joe Biden. FBI investigators raided Bolton's office and home in Bethesda, Maryland, as part of the probe. The Justice Department condemned Bolton's actions, with Hayden O'Byrne, acting deputy assistant attorney general, stating: “John Bolton held a position of extraordinary public trust as the country’s top national security adviser, and he betrayed that trust, jeopardizing our nation’s security. Today’s resolution ought to send a message to other public officials whom the public has entrusted with classified national defense information. If you willfully mishandle these state secrets, the Department of Justice, led by the national security division, will investigate and prosecute you to the fullest extent of the law.”
