Former White House National Security Advisor John Bolton pleaded guilty Friday to one count of an 18-count indictment alleging unauthorized possession of a document related to national defense. The plea agreement was made during a hearing at the federal district court in Greenbelt, Maryland.
Bolton's guilty plea to the twelfth count carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison, though both the prosecution and defense agreed that five years is the maximum prison time that can be imposed. Prosecutors stated that Bolton also faces a fine of $2.25 million, with half due within five days, a required debriefing with a U.S. intelligence committee, three years of supervised release, and up to 100 hours of community service. Bolton also agreed not to seek an annuity or retirement from his federal service.
By pleading guilty, Bolton waived his right to appeal the sentence and conviction. However, he has the option to withdraw his guilty plea before sentencing, a window that will close once the sentencing phase concludes. Judge Theodore Chuang has up to 90 days to hand down a sentence.
Authorities initially raided Bolton's home and office in August of the previous year. He was indicted in October, facing charges for both transmission and retention of classified documents. According to the indictment, the documents Bolton unlawfully kept contained intelligence about potential future attacks by an adversarial group, details about a liaison partner sharing sensitive information with U.S. intelligence, and information that a foreign adversary was planning a future missile launch. Prosecutors indicated that many of these documents were labeled "TOP SECRET."
"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. It further stated that Bolton "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."
Bolton served as National Security Adviser under President Donald Trump from 2018 to 2019. Trump stated Bolton was fired due to policy disagreements, while Bolton maintained he resigned voluntarily.