John Bolton Pleads Guilty to Illegally Retaining National Defense Information

Former National Security Adviser John Bolton pleaded guilty on June 26, 2026 in the US District Court for the District of Maryland (Greenbelt) to one count of unauthorized retention of national defense information, resolving an 18-count indictment stemming from classified diary-style entries he shared with family members while preparing his memoir 'The Room Where It Happened.' The charge carries a maximum 10-year sentence, though the plea agreement recommends capping prison time at 5 years; Bolton also agreed to pay a $2.25 million fine (half within 5 days, remainder within 90 days), forfeit his federal retirement pay, complete up to 100 hours of community service, and submit to an intelligence debriefing. Sentencing is scheduled for October 28, 2026. Bolton, 77, became a prominent Trump critic after leaving the administration in 2019.