John Bolton, who served as Donald Trump’s national security adviser before becoming a vocal critic, pleaded guilty in a federal court in Maryland to one count of retaining classified national security information. The charge carries a potential sentence of up to five years in prison.
Details of the case
The charge stems from diary entries Bolton compiled for his memoir, which was highly critical of Trump. Prosecutors alleged he transmitted some of these materials to two relatives, reported to be his wife and daughter.
Bolton initially pleaded not guilty to an 18-count indictment in October last year. However, under a plea deal with the US Department of Justice, he agreed to plead guilty to the single count and pay a fine exceeding $2 million.
Impact and sentencing
Had Bolton gone to trial and been convicted, he could have faced decades in prison. A trial also risked exposing significant classified information in open court, which was cited as a reason for accepting the deal.
Bolton is expected to argue for no prison time, but the DOJ may seek incarceration, setting the stage for a contentious sentencing hearing at a later date.
