John Bolton to Plead Guilty to Retaining Classified Information

Matt Margolis : Jun 4, 2026
PJ Media

The case has been building since August of last year, when FBI agents executed search warrants at Bolton's home and office in Maryland. Federal prosecutors originally hit Bolton with 18 counts of either retaining or disseminating classified information.

[PJMedia.com] John Bolton is headed to federal court to plead guilty to one count of retaining classified information under a deal with the Justice Department. Under the deal, he could avoid prison time, according to the Associated Press. (Screengrab image: via CBS News)

The deal would resolve a criminal case filed in October that charged Bolton with 18 counts of either retaining or disseminating classified information, including diary-like notes from his time in government that officials say he shared with his family members as he was preparing a memoir about his time in office.

Under the agreement, Bolton would also face a $2.25 million fine, said the person, who insisted on anonymity to discuss a deal that had not been made public. Any prison sentence would be capped at five years, but the agreement allows for him to avoid time behind bars, though the punishment will ultimately be up to a judge.

The case has been building since August of last year, when FBI agents executed search warrants at Bolton's home and office in Maryland. Federal prosecutors originally hit Bolton with 18 counts of either retaining or disseminating classified information.

Under the agreement, Bolton faces a sentence capped at five years in prison, though the deal leaves open the possibility of no prison time at all. A judge will make the final call... Subscribe for free to Breaking Christian News here