Former National Security Adviser John Bolton has pleaded guilty to unauthorized possession of a national defense document. The guilty plea was part of a plea agreement that will see prosecutors dismiss the remaining 17 counts at sentencing. Bolton's plea was in response to allegations that he unlawfully kept classified national defense information after leaving government service.
The allegations against Bolton include keeping more than 1,000 pages of notes detailing his day-to-day activities as national security adviser and sharing portions of that material with two family members using a personal email account. The documents included highly sensitive intelligence involving covert action programs, human intelligence sources and methods, and foreign military threats. Bolton faces a $2.25 million fine, up to five years in prison, and other penalties as part of his plea agreement.
Following Bolton's guilty plea, a public figure responded with a statement criticizing Bolton's actions. The statement described Bolton as a "terrible person" who "only wanted to start trouble and wars." The statement also expressed hope that Bolton would be dealt with harshly. Bolton's defense attorneys have said that they hope he will avoid jail time when he is sentenced on October 28.
Bolton served as national security adviser from April 2018 until September 2019. His relationship with his former boss deteriorated after he left the administration, particularly following the publication of his memoir, which offered a critical account of the presidency. Bolton's attorney has defended his client's decision to plead guilty, saying it reflected accountability and a desire to save the government resources that would have been spent on a trial.
The investigation into Bolton's actions demonstrated that he knowingly mishandled classified information. The FBI found that Bolton had retained classified documents in his home and had shared them with family members using a personal email account. Bolton's plea agreement brings an end to the case against him, but his sentencing is still pending.
Bolton's attorney has highlighted the differences between his client's actions and those of his former boss, who has also been accused of mishandling classified information. The attorney noted that Bolton had kept a record of his time in office to preserve history, while his former boss had kept secrets for personal gain. The case against Bolton has raised questions about the handling of classified information by government officials and the consequences of mishandling such information.
