June 26 - John Bolton, the former national security adviser to President Donald Trump who later emerged as one of the president's most outspoken critics, is anticipated to enter a guilty plea in federal court on Friday to charges tied to the mishandling of classified materials.
Sources familiar with the matter have said Bolton agreed to a plea arrangement with prosecutors. The terms reportedly include a sentencing range that could result in no prison time or, alternatively, a prison term of as long as five years. Final sentencing will be decided by a judge. The agreement also calls for Bolton to pay a $2.25 million fine, according to the sources.
The criminal case alleges Bolton disclosed sensitive information to two relatives with the possible intent that they use the material in a book he was writing. Prosecutors contend the shared material included notes related to intelligence briefings as well as records of meetings with senior U.S. officials and foreign leaders. Previously, Bolton had pleaded not guilty to 18 criminal counts filed against him last year.
Bolton's prosecution is notable within a broader set of cases brought by the Justice Department under Mr. Trump that have targeted several prominent political opponents. Those prosecutions, the sources said, have altered long-standing norms intended to separate routine law enforcement from partisan considerations. The Bolton probe, however, differs in one important respect noted by sources: it began before Mr. Trump returned to office in 2025 and was pursued with the support of career federal prosecutors.
The plea arrangement, as described by sources, would resolve the charges in federal court subject to judicial approval of the sentence. The announced monetary penalty and the stated sentencing range are components of the agreement that will now be presented to the judge for final determination.
Context and implications
The case centers on the allegation that Bolton provided classified or sensitive documents to family members for possible use in a book manuscript. The materials at issue are said to have included notes from intelligence briefings and from meetings with senior government and foreign officials. Last year Bolton entered a not guilty plea to 18 criminal counts related to those allegations. The current plea deal would replace that earlier plea if the court accepts the agreement and imposes a sentence within the agreed parameters.
Observers will look to the court's handling of the agreement, including whether the judge accepts the plea and what sentence is ultimately imposed. The sentence could range from no prison time to a custodial sentence of up to five years, and would include a $2.25 million fine as part of the negotiated resolution.
The investigation into Bolton's handling of classified information had been underway prior to Mr. Trump's return to office in 2025 and proceeded with the involvement of career federal prosecutors, according to the reporting on the case. That feature of the inquiry is highlighted amid wider attention to prosecutions initiated during the current Justice Department leadership that have included several high-profile political figures.