John Bolton, former national security advisor to President Donald Trump, has agreed to plead guilty to a charge of retaining classified information in a private diary. This plea deal, reported by MS NOW, could result in a sentence of up to 60 months in prison and a fine of $2.25 million.
The classified information in question was shared with his wife and daughter, who did not have security clearances. Bolton was indicted in October on multiple counts related to the transmission and retention of national defense information, following an FBI raid on his home and office.
He has maintained his innocence, claiming that the charges are politically motivated due to his criticism of Trump. This case is part of a broader context where several prominent Trump critics have faced legal challenges, raising questions about the intersection of politics and the legal system. Bolton is scheduled to enter his guilty plea in U.S.
District Court in Maryland on June 26, 2026, which could further influence public perception of the Trump administration and its legacy