Ex-Trump adviser Bolton indicts on secret charges | Donald Trump News

The hawkish national security chief has been critical of President Trump since serving his first term in office.

John Bolton, a prominent critic of US President Donald Trump who served as his national security adviser, has agreed not to withhold classified information during a criminal trial in Maryland.

Bolton pleaded guilty Friday to a charge related to share documents with two relatives to be used in a book he was writing, including intelligence briefs and meetings with government officials and foreign leaders. He pleaded guilty to 18 charges last year.

“I’m sorry,” Bolton told US District Judge Theodore D Chuang during the sentencing hearing.

Boltonwho served as national security adviser during Trump’s first term, is one of many political dissidents who have been reprimanded by Trump’s Justice Department, removing long-standing traditions that separated law enforcement from dissenting opinions.

However, unlike other cases against Trump’s opponents, Bolton’s investigation began before Trump returned to office in 2025 and was supported by federal prosecutors.

Reuters previously reported that, as part of the agreement and federal prosecutors, Bolton may plead guilty in exchange for a no-prison sentence of up to five years in prison. The hawkish national security chief is due to be sentenced in October.

Bolton also said that he agreed to pay a fine of $ 2.25m and commit to work 100 hours. He was accused of sharing classified information with two relatives, including intelligence documents and meetings with foreign leaders, so that they could be used to document his experiences in the White House during the first term of Trump.

The book, titled The Room Where It Happened, criticized Trump, who Bolton said was unfit to be president. Mr Trump accused Bolton of being a “crazy” man who was too wary and would have led the country into “World War Six”.