Former Trump national security adviser John Bolton is set to plead guilty to improperly handling national defense information, according to two sources familiar with the matter. The plea, scheduled for a June 26 rearraignment hearing, will resolve a case that initially included 18 counts under the Espionage Act.
Bolton will admit to one count of retention of national security information, a significant reduction from the original indictment handed down in October. As part of the deal, he has agreed to pay $2.25 million. The agreement caps any potential prison sentence at five years, though Bolton's legal team plans to argue for no jail time. The Justice Department's recommendation remains unclear.
The case, overseen by U.S. District Judge Theodore Chuang, an Obama appointee, stems from allegations that Bolton shared more than a thousand pages of diary entries with two relatives and improperly retained documents containing national defense information while preparing his memoir. A source emphasized that Bolton was not accused of removing classified documents from government custody but rather of referencing national security information in his personal diaries.
Those records were shared only with his wife and daughter during the writing process. The source drew comparisons to cases involving former national security adviser Sandy Berger and General David Petraeus, both of whom avoided prison time for similar offenses. However, violations of the Espionage Act carry stiff penalties, and even those who inadvertently remove national defense information from proper storage can face severe consequences.
Bolton has long argued that he is the target of a retribution campaign, a claim that echoes his broader criticism of former President Trump. Trump, who fired Bolton during his first term, has repeatedly attacked him publicly, calling him a low-life and sleazebag. Bolton, in turn, has been a vocal critic of Trump's policies, including on issues like Iran negotiations.
The case has moved slowly as both sides navigated the handling of classified material. Bolton was not due to file pretrial motions until July. The plea deal, first reported by CNN, brings a swift resolution to a politically charged prosecution that has drawn attention to the handling of sensitive information by high-ranking officials.
Observers note that the outcome underscores the Justice Department's approach to such cases, which can result in significant penalties even when no malicious intent is proven. The plea also avoids a trial that would have delved into Bolton's diaries and his interactions with Trump, topics that have fueled ongoing tensions between the two men.
Bolton's guilty plea is the latest development in a series of legal battles involving former Trump administration officials, highlighting the enduring scrutiny of national security protocols and the political fallout from the Trump era.
