John Bolton Reportedly Agrees to Plea Deal in Classified Information Case

John Bolton, US national security adviser during President Donald Trump's first term, has agreed to plead guilty to one count of retaining classified information, according to US media reports.

Bolton, who has turned into an outspoken critic of Trump, could face a $2.2 million fine but avoid prison time under a deal with the US Justice Department, the Associated Press and CNN reported.

Why is Bolton facing charges?

In August 2025, federal agents raided Bolton's home and office and a criminal case was filed in October that year.

The former presidential adviser was charged with 18 counts of either retaining or disseminating classified information. He pleaded not guilty at the time.

Bolton was accused of sharing diary-like notes from his time in government with two of his relatives while he was preparing his White House memoir.

The indictment said this included notes on intelligence briefings ​and meetings with senior ⁠government officials and foreign leaders.

Bolton turns from advisor into fierce Trump critic

The book,"The Room Where it Happened," was released in 2021, after Trump's first administration unsuccessfully tried to block its publication, claiming it risked disclosing classified information. In 2021, after Joe Biden took office, US prosecutors dropped a lawsuit and grand jury investigation into the book.

The memoir paints an unflattering image of Trump, claiming the president lacked basic knowledge of government and geopolitics and was unfit to lead the United States.

Bolton's plea deal is expected to cover the notes he shared with relatives as opposed to information in the book, the Associated Press reported.

Bolton, a conservative foreign policy hawk who also served as US ambassador to the UN, has continued to publicly criticize Trump.

In May, Bolton said foreign leaders like Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping perceive Trump as a "laughing fool."

Trump goes after adversaries

Since Trump took office for a second term, his administration has been accused of using the US legal system to go after the president's enemies.

According to an investigation by Reuters news agency, at least "470 people, organizations and institutions have been targeted for retribution since Trump took office" in January 2025.

The US Justice Department is currently run by Trump's former personal attorney, acting Attorney General Todd Blanche. The Justice Department building itself in Washington, DC, is adorned with a huge banner featuring Trump's visage.

Neither the Justice Department nore Bolton has released an official statement nor commented on the reported deal.

Edited by: Sean Sinico