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Former White House National Security Advisor John Bolton pleaded guilty on Friday to only one count of an 18-count indictment, but he will not be sentenced until the fall.
During a hearing at the federal district court in Greenbelt, Maryland, Bolton pleaded guilty to the twelfth count, alleging he had unauthorized possession of a document related to national defense.
“This FBI’s investigation proved that John Bolton knowingly transmitted top secret information using personal online accounts and retained said documents in his house – all in direct violation of federal law,” FBI Director Kash Patel said in a statement to Fox News Digital. “Despite an onslaught of false claims by the fake news stating this case was ‘retribution,’ this investigation was based on meticulous work from dedicated professionals at the FBI who followed the facts without fear or favor – and Bolton chose to admit his guilt and plead guilty. He is now a convicted felon for violating one of the most consequential trusts placed upon government officials.”
The count typically has a maximum penalty of 10 years behind bars, but both sides agreed that five years will be the most prison time that can be imposed.
U.S. Attorney Kelly O. Hayes addressed reporters outside the courthouse, emphasizing that this case demonstrated that “no one is above the law.” Hayes declined to take questions.
FORMER NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISOR JOHN BOLTON TO PLEAD GUILTY TO RETAINING CLASSIFIED INFORMATION: SOURCES
“The rules governing classified and national defense information apply equally to everyone, regardless of position, and regardless of how long you have served with the United States government,” Hayes began her brief remarks.
“The national defense information at issue in this case was classified at the highest classification levels,” Hayes added. “It contained human intelligence using sensitive sources and methods, and it discussed a covert action program. Mr. Bolton admitted he shared more than 1,000 pages of information about his day-to-day activities as the national security advisor.”
A prosecutor from the Department of Justice told Judge Theodore Chuang that Bolton also faces a fine of $2.25 million, half of which should be paid within 5 days, a required debrief with a U.S. intelligence committee, three years of supervised release and up to 100 hours of community service.
Bolton, who served as national security advisor from April 2018 to September 2019, agreed that he would not get an annuity or retirement from his federal service.
When the judge asked Bolton if he was pleading guilty after having heard the summary of facts in the case, the former Trump official said: “I am your honor, and I’m sorry for it.”
The sentencing was set for October 28. The government plans to dismiss the remaining counts at that hearing.
By pleading guilty, Bolton waived his right to appeal the sentence and conviction. Chuang said Bolton will be allowed to withdraw his guilty pleas before sentencing. That window will close once the sentencing phase concludes.
Authorities first raided Bolton’s home and office in August of last year. He was indicted in October, originally being charged with both transmission and retention of classified documents.
JOHN BOLTON INDICTED WITH IMPROPER HANDLING OF CLASSIFIED DOCUMENTS
According to the indictment, the documents Bolton illegally kept had intelligence about future attacks by an adversarial group in another country.
Prosecutors said the documents also contained information about a liaison partner sharing sensitive information with the U.S. intelligence community, as well as intelligence that a foreign adversary was planning a missile launch in the future.
Many of the documents were labeled “TOP SECRET,” according to prosecutors.
“From on or about April 9, 2018, through at least on or about August 22, 2025, BOLTON abused his position as National Security Advisor by sharing more than a thousand pages of information about his day-to-day activities as the National Security Advisor,” the indictment read.
BOLTON MAY BE IN HOT WATER AS FBI INVESTIGATION EXPANDS BEYOND CONTROVERSIAL BOOK
“BOLTON also unlawfully retained documents, writings, and notes relating to the national defense, including information classified up to the TOP SECRET/SCI level, in his home in Montgomery County, Maryland,” it continued.
Bolton shared this information with two family members through his personal email account, according to prosecutors.
That email account, per court records, was hacked by someone believed to be associated with Iran after Bolton left office.
Since Bolton’s departure, he and Trump have been bitter enemies, with the two men frequently attacking each other over foreign policy disagreements.
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At the time, Trump said he fired Bolton, but Bolton claimed he resigned of his own accord.
Bolton published a memoir in 2020 titled “The Room Where It Happened,” which characterized Trump as an erratic and irrational leader.
The Trump administration sued to block the book’s release, claiming it contained national security secrets that were classified. A federal judge allowed the book to hit shelves, and Bolton was never prosecuted for anything that was included in it.
Bolton’s attorney released a statement Friday, saying his client “did what real leaders do.”
“He took responsibility for a mistake he made, thereby saving the government resources to pursue a case that could expose additional sensitive information,” Abbe Lowell said. “By contrast, President Trump thumbed his nose at the classified information laws, took actual classified documents to his Florida mansion, interfered with the investigation of that conduct, and has never accepted any accountability for his conduct. Ambassador Bolton, whose offense was only keeping a diary which contained classified information, kept a record to preserve history, but Donald Trump kept secrets to serve himself.”
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