John Bolton pleads guilty in classified documents case, faces up to 5 years
John Bolton, who served as national security adviser under former U.S. President Donald Trump and later became one of his most prominent critics, pleaded guilty on Friday in federal court to mishandling classified information. The plea agreement could result in a sentence ranging from no prison time to as many as five years, with the final decision to be made by U.S. District Judge Theodore D. Chuang in October.
“I’m sorry for it,” Bolton, 77, told the judge during the hearing. As part of the deal, he agreed to pay a $2.25 million fine — half within five days of sentencing and the full amount within 90 days — and to perform up to 100 hours of community service. He also committed to meet with intelligence and Justice Department officials for a debriefing and will forfeit his government pension.
The charges stem from Bolton sharing sensitive information with two relatives for potential use in a memoir he was writing. The book, titled “The Room Where It Happened,” detailed his tenure as national security adviser in 2019–2020 and described Trump as unfit for office, sparking a public feud. Prosecutors confirmed on Friday that no classified information was actually published in the book. They also noted that Bolton’s personal email had been hacked by someone believed to be linked to Iran.
Bolton initially pleaded not guilty to 18 criminal charges last year. The case has drawn scrutiny because Bolton is among several notable political opponents of Trump who have faced prosecution under the Justice Department during Trump’s second term, which began in 2025. However, prosecutors emphasized that the investigation into Bolton began before Trump returned to office and had the backing of career federal prosecutors, distinguishing it from other cases that critics have described as politically motivated.
The sentencing hearing is scheduled for October. Bolton’s plea deal allows the judge discretion to determine the final sentence, which could include no prison time.
