Topline
John Bolton, a former national security adviser during President Donald Trump’s first term who later emerged as a fierce critic of him, pleaded guilty to retaining classified information Friday, a win for Trump’s Justice Department as it prosecutes perceived political foes of the president.
John Bolton arrived in court Friday to enter a guilty plea. (Photo by Al Drago/Getty Images)
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Key Facts
Bolton pleaded guilty to one count of illegally retaining classified information, after prosecutors issued an 18-count indictment that accused him of keeping more than 1,000 pages of notes chronicling national security information and sharing them with his wife and daughter.
Under his plea deal, Bolton faces up to five years in prison and he has agreed to pay a $2.25 million fine, though the Associated Press reported the deal could help him avoid a prison sentence altogether.
Bolton is set to be sentenced Oct. 28 by U.S. District Judge Theodore Chuang at a federal district court in Maryland.
When asked by the judge if he was guilty of the offense, Bolton said, “I am your honor, and I’m sorry for it.”
Bolton originally pleaded not guilty to the 18 counts in October, saying at the time he was the “latest target in weaponizing the Justice Department to charge those [Trump] deems to be his enemies.”
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.