Ex-Trump advisor John Bolton pleads guilty to retaining national defense information

John Bolton, a former national security advisor to President Donald Trump, pleaded guilty in Maryland federal court on Friday morning to one criminal count of retaining national defense information.

The information was material that the 77-year-old Bolton retained after leaving office, which he used to prepare a book about his time in the Trump administration, which was critical of the president.

"Bolton used personal accounts to send classified information to family members who were unauthorized to access such information, including a personal email account that was later hacked by a cyber actor allegedly linked to the Islamic Republic of Iran," the Department of Justice said in a statement on Friday.

"The documents contained information classified up to the TOP SECRET level, as well as Sensitive Compartmented Information (SCI), including foreign adversaries' military operation plans, covert U.S. government actions in foreign countries, and intelligence about adversary foreign leaders obtained from clandestine human sources and intercepted communications," the DOJ said.

Bolton faces a maximum possible sentence of five years in prison when he is sentenced on Oct. 28.

He has agreed to pay a fine of $2.25 million, according to prosecutors. And because of his conviction, Bolton and his survivors will be barred from collecting an annuity or federal retirement pay.

When Judge Theodore Chuang asked Bolton on Friday if he intended to plead guilty, Bolton replied, "I am, your honor, and I'm sorry for that," according to MS Now.

A portion of the hearing in U.S. District Court in Greenbelt was sealed due to national security concerns.

"Mr. Bolton knew the damage mishandling confidential material could cause to national security, and yet he still committed this misconduct and put American lives at risk," said Maryland U.S. Attorney Kelly O'Hayes in a statement.

Bolton, who for years has been a staunch critic of Trump, was indicted in October by a grand jury on eight counts of transmission of national defense information and 10 counts of retention of national defense information.

The remaining counts of the indictment will be dismissed when Bolton is sentenced, according to prosecutors.

FBI agents raided Bolton's home in Bethesda, Maryland, and his office in Washington, D.C., on Aug. 22 as part of the Department of Justice's criminal investigation of him.

Bolton served as Trump's national security advisor from April 2018 through September 2019.

Bolton is one of three high-profile foes of Trump who have been indicted on federal criminal charges since Trump reentered the White House for a second non-consecutive term in January 2025.

The other two are former FBI Director James Comey and New York Attorney General Letitia James.

Comey was charged with making a false statement and obstruction in connection with nearly 5-year-old testimony to the Senate. James was indicted on charges of bank fraud and false statements to a financial institution in connection with a mortgage she had obtained to buy a three-bedroom home in Virginia.

A judge in November dismissed both cases against Comey and James, ruling that the top prosecutor in the cases, who was handpicked by Trump, was invalidly appointed.

Comey was indicted again on April 28, in North Carolina federal court for allegedly threatening Trump's life by posting a photo on Instagram of seashells spelling out "8647."

Comey and James have denied any wrongdoing and have said they were targeted by the Department of Justice because of their opposition to Trump.