John Bolton, the former national security advisor to President Donald Trump and now one of his vocal critics, appeared in federal court on Friday, admitting to mishandling classified materials and risking a sentence of up to five years in prison.
During the hearing, Bolton told Judge Theodore D. Chuang, “I’m sorry for it.”
Reuters had previously reported that Bolton’s guilty plea was part of a deal with prosecutors, balancing a range from no jail time to five years, with the final sentencing to be decided by the judge.
As part of the agreement, Bolton agreed to pay a $2.25 million fine, with half due within five days of sentencing and the rest within 90 days. He also committed to completing up to 100 hours of community service, participating in debriefings with intelligence and Justice Department officials, and forfeiting his government pension. The sentencing is scheduled for October.
Bolton is accused of sharing sensitive information with two family members, possibly for use in a memoir, including notes from intelligence briefings and meetings with senior officials and foreign leaders. Last year, he pleaded not guilty to 18 criminal charges.
His upcoming book details his time as Trump’s national security advisor during his first term and portrays the president as unfit for office, which led to a public clash. However, prosecutors confirmed that no classified information was published in Bolton’s book, titled “The Room Where It Happened.”
Authorities also indicated that Bolton’s personal email account was hacked by someone believed to be connected to Iran, a detail reiterated by prosecutors.
Bolton’s case, initiated before Trump’s return to office in 2025 and supported by career federal prosecutors, marks a notable example of legal action against a prominent political opponent. Unlike other cases involving critics of Trump, this investigation commenced earlier and did not appear solely as a partisan effort.