John Bolton, who served as US President Donald Trump's national security adviser during his first term before becoming one of his most outspoken critics, pleaded guilty in federal court on Friday to mishandling classified information.
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People familiar with the matter had earlier told news agency Reuters that Bolton was expected to enter a guilty plea under an agreement with prosecutors. The deal provides for a sentencing range from no prison term to a maximum of five years, with the final punishment to be decided by the judge. Under the agreement, Bolton will also pay a fine of $2.25 million.
He is required to pay half of the amount within five days of sentencing, with the remaining balance due within 90 days.
Prosecutors accused Bolton of sharing sensitive government information with two relatives for possible inclusion in a memoir he was writing. The material allegedly included notes from intelligence briefings as well as meetings involving senior US officials and foreign leaders. Bolton had pleaded not guilty to 18 criminal charges filed against him last year.
Bolton's prosecution comes after his high-profile split with Trump following his tenure as national security adviser during the president's first administration.
He is among several prominent political opponents of Trump who have faced prosecution by the Justice Department, prompting criticism from some quarters that long-standing norms separating criminal investigations from partisan politics have been weakened.
However, unlike several other cases involving Trump critics, the investigation into Bolton began before Trump returned to the White House in 2025 and was supported by career federal prosecutors.
