Trump adviser-turned-critic John Bolton pleads guilty to mishandling classified documents
Former US national security adviser John Bolton has pleaded guilty to mishandling classified information as part of a plea deal. He faces a fine and potential prison time, though prosecutors confirmed no classified data appeared in his memoir.
Why it matters
The case underscores the legal risks associated with the handling of sensitive government information by high-level officials.
John Bolton, a former national security adviser for U.S. President Donald Trump who has since become one of his fiercest critics, pleaded guilty in federal court on Friday (June 26, 2026) to mishandling classified information and faces up to five years in prison. “I’m sorry for it,” Mr. Bolton told U.S. District Judge Theodore D. Chuang during the hearing.
The article provides a factual account of the court proceedings and the terms of the plea agreement.
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