Former Trump advisor admits guilt over leaking classified information

John Bolton, former national security advisor to US President Donald Trump - and who has since become one of his fiercest critics - pleaded guilty this Friday (26), in federal court, to mishandling classified information and faces a sentence of up to five years in prison.

"I'm sorry this happened," Bolton told U.S. District Judge Theodore D. Chuang during the hearing.

The Reuters news agency had previously reported that Bolton would plead guilty as part of a deal with prosecutors; The agreement provided for a sentence range that ranged from no prison time to five years of detention, with the judge determining the final sentence.

As part of what was agreed, Bolton agreed to pay a fine of US$2.25 million. The 77-year-old former counselor must pay half the amount within five days after the sentence and pay the full amount within 90 days after the court decision.

He also committed to performing up to 100 hours of community service and meeting with intelligence and Justice Department officials to provide clarifications. Bolton will also give up his retirement as a public servant.

Chuang scheduled the reading of the sentence for October.

Charges against former adviser
Bolton is accused of sharing classified information with two relatives for possible use in a memoir he was writing, including notes on intelligence briefings and meetings with high-ranking government officials and foreign leaders.

Last year, he pleaded not guilty to 18 criminal charges.

The book detailed Bolton's time as Trump's national security advisor during his first term.

In the work, he described the president as unfit for office, triggering a public dispute. However, prosecutors said Friday that no classified information was published in Bolton's book, "The Room Where It Happened."

Authorities said the former adviser's personal email was hacked by someone believed to have ties to Iran - a point reiterated by prosecutors on Friday.

Bolton, who served as national security adviser during Trump's first term, is one of several high-profile political opponents who have faced lawsuits brought by the Justice Department under the Republican leader - a practice that broke with long-standing norms separating law enforcement actions from partisan considerations.

However, unlike other cases brought against critics of the president, the investigation into Bolton began before Trump returned to office in 2025 and had the support of career federal prosecutors.

Source: CNN