The Justice Department’s classified documents case against John Bolton has taken a dramatic turn with a guilty plea from Donald Trump’s former national security adviser. The development marks the latest legal chapter for one of Trump’s most vocal former allies turned critics.
Bolton admitted in federal court that he unlawfully retained classified information after leaving government, avoiding a trial on the broader indictment filed against him last year. While his plea agreement could spare him from a lengthy prison sentence, the final decision now rests with the judge.
John Bolton classified documents guilty plea and federal case details
According to Sky News, Bolton pleaded guilty on Friday in a Maryland federal court to a single count of illegally retaining classified information. The former national security adviser served in Donald Trump’s first administration before their highly publicized split in 2019, after which Bolton became one of the president’s sharpest critics.
The plea agreement recommends a maximum prison sentence of five years, although U.S. District Judge Theodore Chuang is not required to follow that recommendation. Sky News reported that Bolton will be sentenced on October 28 and may withdraw his guilty plea if the judge imposes a longer prison term or a fine exceeding $2.25 million.
The case stems from an indictment filed in October that accused Bolton of mishandling sensitive government information after leaving office. According to USA TODAY, prosecutors alleged that Bolton “abused his position” as national security adviser by sharing more than 1,000 pages detailing his day-to-day government activities with two relatives who lived in his Maryland home.
Court documents cited by USA TODAY further alleged that Bolton kept handwritten notes during his time in office before sending diary-like entries through a commercial messaging application. Prosecutors also claimed he transmitted additional top-secret information using personal AOL and Google email accounts.
Before reaching the plea agreement, Bolton faced 18 federal counts involving the retention and transmission of national defense information. Sky News also reported that FBI agents searched his Maryland residence and Washington office during the investigation, which began before Donald Trump returned to the White House in January 2025.
Bolton’s legal troubles come years after he published “The Room Where It Happened,” a memoir detailing his time inside the Trump administration. The White House unsuccessfully attempted to block the book’s release, arguing it contained classified material that could jeopardize national security.
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