John Bolton Reaches Plea Deal in Classified Documents Case, Reduced From 18 Counts to One
The former national security adviser reached a plea deal that includes a fine exceeding $2 million. A rearraignment is set for June 26.
foxnews.comJohn Bolton has agreed to plead guilty to one count of illegal retention of classified national security information. The plea agreement requires Bolton to pay a fine exceeding $2 million. A conviction on the charge carries a potential sentence of zero to 60 months in prison.
A notice of a scheduled rearraignment on June 26 was added to the criminal case docket. Prosecutors charged Bolton in October 2025. The indictment accused him of transmitting and retaining national defense information.
Bolton was originally charged with eight counts of transmission of national defense information and 10 counts of retention of national defense information. Bolton allegedly retained diary entries and other records from his time in the White House. He allegedly shared more than 1,000 pages documenting his day-to-day activities through a personal email account with two unauthorized individuals.
The two individuals are suspected to be Bolton’s wife and daughter. The case stems from an FBI investigation reopened during the Biden administration. Suspected Iranian hackers breached Bolton’s email account, leading investigators to discover diary-style entries containing highly classified information from his tenure as national security adviser.
Bolton is 77 years old and served as national security adviser during President Trump’s first term. A spokeswoman for the DOJ declined to comment.
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