John Bolton to plead guilty in classified documents case, pay $2.25 million fine

John Bolton, who served as Donald Trump's national security adviser before becoming one of his most vocal critics, has agreed to plead guilty to a single charge of mishandling classified documents, according to multiple sources familiar with the matter. The plea deal, which includes a $2.25 million fine, is expected to be entered at a court hearing on 26 June.

The charges and the plea

Bolton was indicted in October 2025 on 18 counts related to improper handling of classified material, including retention and transmission of national defence information. He initially pleaded not guilty to all charges. Under the agreement, he will plead guilty to one count of retaining classified information based on diary-like entries from his time as national security adviser. The charge carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison, though one source told the BBC the deal recommends no jail time. A judge will ultimately decide the sentence at a separate hearing.

The ambassador has admitted to what he has done.

The evidence

Prosecutors alleged that Bolton shared sensitive information with two relatives — identified by several media outlets as his wife and daughter — for possible use in a book he was writing. The material included notes from intelligence briefings and meetings with senior government officials and foreign leaders. The indictment stated that Bolton transmitted documents marked as top secret via personal email accounts and messaging apps. The FBI searched his home and office in Bethesda, Maryland, in August 2025.

A Trump critic in the crosshairs

Bolton served as national security adviser from April 2018 to September 2019. After leaving the administration, he published a memoir describing Trump as unfit for office. Trump has publicly suggested Bolton should face legal consequences, calling him a "bad guy" after the indictment. Bolton's case came alongside prosecutions of other Trump critics, including former FBI Director James Comey and New York Attorney General Letitia James, though legal experts noted that the evidence against Bolton distinguished his case.

The settlement terms

One source familiar with the settlement said the plea deal alleges no wrongdoing regarding Bolton's book, but that Bolton was acknowledging he made a mistake. The agreement must be approved by a judge before being finalised. The Justice Department and a Bolton spokesperson declined to comment on the deal.