Former US National Security Advisor John Bolton to enter plea in classified documents case

Former US National Security Advisor John Bolton is expected to plead guilty to one felony count of unauthorized retention of sensitive national security documents. According to reports citing sources close to the matter, Bolton has agreed to pay a fine exceeding $2 million. This plea follows his initial not-guilty declaration in October 2025, when he faced 18 total charges related to the transmission and possession of defense information under the Espionage Act. Federal prosecutors in Maryland had previously alleged that Bolton shared over 1,000 pages of sensitive journal notes from his time in the Trump administration with two unauthorized individuals. The upcoming court hearing is scheduled for June 26, where he will submit a new plea in the case. The felony charge carries a potential prison sentence of up to five years. The U.S. Department of Justice has declined to comment, referring instead to public court records.