John Bolton, President Donald Trump’s first-term national security adviser and outspoken critic since leaving the administration, can now add convict to his list of career achievements.
The disgraced public figure pleaded guilty on Friday to charges related to mishandling classified material.
As NBC News reported, that marked a sharp reversal from the position he and his attorney took after charges were initially filed last year:
Bolton pleaded guilty to one count of unauthorized retention of national defense information out of the 18 he was initially charged with. He faces a prison sentence of up to 60 months and has agreed to pay $2.25 million, prosecutors said. He is set to be sentenced Oct. 28.
ADVERTISEMENTBolton described the national security information that he retained as an electronic diary entry that he shared with two members of his family.
Bolton was originally indicted in October 2025, charged with eight counts of transmission of national defense information and 10 counts of retention of national defense information.
He pleaded not guilty to the charges and faced up to 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine per count, and three years of special release.
On Friday, Chuang reiterated the original counts in the case and asked if Bolton was only pleading guilty to count 12. “Yes, your honor,” Bolton said in court.
Bolton’s lawyer, Abbe Lowell, said last year that his client didn’t break the law.
“The underlying facts in this case were investigated and resolved years ago,” Lowell said. “These charges stem from portions of Amb. Bolton’s personal diaries over his 45-year career — records that are unclassified, shared only with his immediate family, and known to the FBI as far back as 2021.”
News quickly spread via social media:
Classic Washington hypocrisy. Bolton spent years attacking Trump over classified documents and now he’s pleading guilty to the exact same thing. Rules for thee but not for me.
— Chloe Jacobs (@jacobChloe) June 26, 2026
— 300 Guns (@300_guns) June 26, 2026
How many corrupt LEGACY MEDIA darlings are in PRISON or are going to PRISON???
CORRUPT LEGACY MEDIA used john Bolton ONLY because he was attacking President Trump
The CORRUPT LEGACY MEDIA MUST BE DESTROYED
— The Dood (@bobbycotton2024) June 26, 2026
Here’s more from Fox News:
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.
“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 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.”
And here’s some more coverage of the charges against him:
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