John Bolton reportedly to plead guilty in classified documents case

political figures political scandals legal proceedings

John Bolton, the former US national security adviser and staunch critic of Donald Trump, will reportedly plead guilty to charges regarding the mishandling of classified documents. The US Department of Justice filed federal charges against Bolton in October 2025 as part of a string of criminal charges secured against critics of the president in a matter of weeks.

A federal grand jury indicted Bolton on 18 counts last year. He is accused of sharing diary notes with his family that contained sensitive information from his time serving as national security adviser.

When he was first indicted, Bolton asserted his innocence and claimed he was being targeted because of his public opposition to President Trump. Sources indicate that a deal with the Justice Department could now allow him to avoid prison time.

John Bolton plans to plead guilty in classified documents case, sources say

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