Donald Trump’s former NSA (aka National Security Advisor), John Bolton, has reportedly pleaded guilty in a case involving the retention of classified information. Bolton served as the NSA under the Trump administration from 2018 to 2019. Bolton, who once worked under Trump, has now become a vocal critic of the President.
John Bolton reportedly pleaded guilty to retaining classified information
According to a report by AP News, former National Security Advisor John Bolton was reportedly found guilty of retaining classified documents. Further information reveals that those exposed to this information are Bolton’s wife and daughter.
An official suggested that Bolton held the information in a private diary. In October, Bolton was charged with keeping classified notes with himself despite signing numerous non-disclosure agreements. After pleading guilty to the charge, Bolton is reported to have been sentenced to 60 months in prison. Moreover, as part of a plea deal with the Justice Department, he will have to pay a $2.25 million fine.
The court documents state that Bolton was accused of sharing “more than a thousand pages, including information relating to the national defense, which was classified up to the top secret level with two unauthorized individuals.”
It further stated, “Bolton wrote many of these diary-like entries by transcribing his handwritten notes from his day’s activities into word processing documents, which he then electronically sent to Individuals 1 and 2 through a commercial non-governmental messaging application. At no point did Bolton have authorization to store or transmit the classified information that he sent to Individuals 1 and 2 via his personal electronic devices and accounts. Nor did, at any time, Individuals 1 or 2 have authorization to know or store the classified information that Bolton gave to them.”
According to the Guardian, Trump also reportedly labeled Bolton a traitor in 2020.
Originally reported by Ishita Verma on Mandatory
