Former National Security Advisor to Donald Trump John Bolton, who served in the president's first term, has reportedly agreed to plead guilty to mishandling classified documents. He will pay a fine of over $2 million and could face up to five years in prison.
🚨 JOHN BOLTON to plead GUILTY to illegally retaining classified documents
— Nick Sortor (@nicksortor) June 4, 2026
He and his mustache will have to pay a $2.25 MILLION, and faces up to 60 MONTHS in prison
This traitor is getting what he deserves. pic.twitter.com/Eie3R0Yjlj
The former Trump ally turned foe was charged on October 16, 2025, when a Maryland federal grand jury indicted him on 18 counts for mishandling classified national defense information.
The plea deal comes months after the top Trump foe was charged by prosecutors in Maryland for allegedly keeping diary entries from the first Trump White House in his home.
Prosecutors accused Bolton of sharing “more than a thousand pages of information about his day-to-day activities” through his personal email account with two unauthorized individuals, who CNN has reported are his wife and daughter. The alleged transmission of classified information isn’t part of the charges he expects to plead guilty to.
MORE: Breaking: Maryland Grand Jury Indicts John Bolton
Delusional: John Bolton Suggests Ukraine Ignore Trump's Peace Efforts and Lower War Fighting Age
RedState’s Susie Moore reported on the charges at the time:
There were hints earlier in the day on Thursday that an indictment may be forthcoming, as CNN reported that the Department of Justice (DOJ) was expected to ask a grand jury to return one.
The lead prosecutor on the Bolton investigation arrived at the courthouse in Greenbelt just before 1:30 p.m. Thursday to meet with the grand jury. The grand jury had been there throughout the morning hearing other matters.
Bolton has been under investigation for alleged unlawful handling of classified information.
Sources previously told CNN that part of the Justice Department’s investigation centers around notes he was making to himself in an AOL email account — at times writing summaries of his activities like diary entries — when he was working for Trump.
The grand jury has now obliged.
The indictment alleges that Bolton knowingly transmitted materials related to foreign policy matters while communicating with outside contacts after leaving the White House.
🚨 BREAKING: JOHN BOLTON PLEADS GUILTY TO A FELONY
— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) June 4, 2026
FAFO!!!
The Trump DOJ has SECURED a guilty plea from disgraced National Security Advisor Bolton on illegally mishandling national security and classified documents.
Now THROW HIM IN PRISON! 🔥
"John Bolton will agree to plea… pic.twitter.com/ad1mz1XJtL
🚨 BREAKING: JOHN BOLTON PLEADS GUILTY TO A FELONY
FAFO!!!
The Trump DOJ has SECURED a guilty plea from disgraced National Security Advisor Bolton on illegally mishandling national security and classified documents.
Now THROW HIM IN PRISON! 🔥
"John Bolton will agree to plea guilty."
He's accused of taking notes of documents/briefings and EMAILING THEM to himself, "as if it were a diary entry," then printing them out and keeping them after he was fired — CNN
He then wrote a memoir, and his home was raided by the feds, with "secret" info found.
CNN says it's a FELONY.
RedState will bring you further updates as warranted.
Editor’s Note: The American people overwhelmingly support President Trump’s law and order agenda.
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