NEW: Trump Hater Pleads Guilty, Faces Major Consequences

Former White House National Security Advisor John Bolton pleaded guilty Friday to just one count in an 18-count federal indictment, though he will not be sentenced today.

During a hearing in federal district court in Greenbelt, Maryland, Bolton pleaded guilty to Count 12 of the indictment, which alleges he had unauthorized possession of a document related to the national defense.

The charge carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison, though both sides agreed that five years is the maximum prison sentence that can be imposed under the plea agreement.

A Department of Justice prosecutor told Judge Theodore Chuang that Bolton also faces a $2.25 million fine, with half due within five days, a required debrief with a U.S. intelligence committee, three years of supervised release and up to 100 hours of community service. Bolton also agreed he will not receive an annuity or retirement benefits from his federal service.

By pleading guilty, Bolton waived his right to appeal both his conviction and sentence. However, he will be allowed to withdraw his guilty plea before sentencing. That window will close once the sentencing phase concludes.

Chuang has up to 90 days to impose a sentence, according to NBC News.

Bolton has also been given 100 hours to remediate the improper disclosure of classified information.

The judge informed Bolton that he is not required to sentence him within the federal sentencing guidelines.

Former U.N. Ambassador John Bolton speaking at the 2015 Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in National Harbor, Maryland

Federal authorities first raided Bolton’s home and office in August of last year. He was indicted in October on charges alleging both the transmission and retention of classified documents.

According to the indictment, the documents Bolton allegedly kept contained intelligence about future attacks by an adversarial group in another country. Prosecutors said the documents also contained information about a liaison partner sharing sensitive information with the U.S. intelligence community, as well as intelligence that a foreign adversary was planning a missile launch in the future.

Many of the documents were labeled “TOP SECRET,” according to prosecutors.

“From on or about April 9, 2018, through at least on or about August 22, 2025, BOLTON abused his position as National Security Advisor by sharing more than a thousand pages of information about his day-to-day activities as the National Security Advisor — including information relating to the national defense which was classified up to the TOP SECRET/SCI level—with two unauthorized individuals,” the indictment read.

“BOLTON also unlawfully retained documents, writings, and notes relating to the national defense, including information classified up to the TOP SECRET/SCI level, in his home in Montgomery County, Maryland,” it continued.

Bolton served as President Donald Trump’s National Security Advisor from 2018 to 2019.

At the time, Trump said he fired Bolton over sharp policy disagreements, while Bolton maintained that he resigned.

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