Ex-Trump adviser John Bolton pleads guilty in classified information case – US politics live

John Bolton pleaded guilty to charges of unlawfully retaining sensitive national security information on June 26, 2026, as part of an agreement that includes a $2.25 million fine. This plea deal with the justice department may allow Bolton to avoid a prison sentence, though the final decision rests with the judge. The agreement suggests a cap of five years for any prison sentence, but the judge is not obligated to adhere to this recommendation, according to the Associated Press. The specifics of the charges and the information unlawfully retained were not detailed in the initial report, but the case centers on national security information. Bolton, a former adviser to President Donald Trump, faced scrutiny over his handling of classified documents following his tenure in government. The resolution of this case marks a significant development in the legal proceedings against him, with the court now tasked with determining the full extent of his punishment.