John Bolton Reaches Deal to Plead Guilty Over Classified Information

John R. Bolton, a former national security adviser to President Trump, has reached a tentative plea deal regarding the mishandling of classified information. The charges stem from notes Bolton compiled for a book critical of the former president. A notice in Maryland federal court indicates a re-arraignment hearing is scheduled for June 26, typically signaling an upcoming guilty plea. Under the proposed agreement, Bolton intends to plead guilty to a single count of illegal retention of classified information and pay a fine. While he could face up to five years in prison, the deal avoids the potential decades of incarceration he risked if he had lost at trial. The original 18-count indictment alleged that Bolton shared over 1,000 pages of notes containing national defense information with family members lacking security clearances. This case represents a notable development in the ongoing efforts to prosecute individuals associated with Trump's political opposition. Unlike other investigations pushed by Trump, this inquiry gained significant momentum under the Biden administration following the discovery of troubling evidence by intelligence agencies. The plea deal remains subject to approval by a judge. The Justice Department has declined to comment on the matter.