Ex-Trump official John Bolton pleads guilty to 1 of 18 counts in classified docs indictment

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 today.

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.

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.

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 agreed that he would not get an annuity or retirement from his federal service.

Former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations and former National Security Advisor John Bolton arrives for a plea deal hearing at U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland on June 26, 2026 in Greenbelt, Maryland.  (Al Drago)

FORMER NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISOR JOHN BOLTON TO PLEAD GUILTY TO RETAINING CLASSIFIED INFORMATION: SOURCES

By pleading guilty, he waived his right to appeal the sentence and conviction. However, Bolton will be allowed to withdraw his guilty pleas before sentencing. That window will close once the sentencing phase concludes. 

Chuang has up to 90 days to hand down a sentence, according to NBC News.

Bolton has been given a much shorter time frame, 100 hours, to remediate the improper disclosure of classified information.

The judge also informed Bolton that he is not required to give him a sentence within the guidelines range.

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.

Former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations and former National Security Advisor John Bolton walks through security as he arrives for a plea deal hearing at U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland on June 26, 2026 in Greenbelt, Maryland. (Al Drago)

According to the indictment, the documents Bolton illegally kept revealed 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 — including information relating to the national defense which was classified up to the TOP SECRET/SCI level—with two unauthorized individuals," the indictment read.

JOHN BOLTON INDICTED WITH IMPROPER HANDLING OF CLASSIFIED DOCUMENTS

Then-National Security Advisor John R. Bolton listens as then-President Donald J. Trump meets with Prime Minister of the Netherlands Mark Rutte in the Oval Office at the White House July 18, 2019, in Washington.  (Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post via Getty Images)

"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 served as Trump's National Security Adviser during his first administration from 2018 to 2019.

At the time, Trump said he fired Bolton over strong policy disagreements, but Bolton claimed he resigned of his own accord.

This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.