John Bolton, who served as national security adviser under President Donald Trump, is expected to plead guilty to charges related to the mishandling of classified documents. Sources familiar with the matter indicate that Bolton will plead guilty to one count of illegal retention of sensitive national security documents and has agreed to pay a fine exceeding $2 million.

Details of the Case

The plea deal follows charges brought against Bolton by prosecutors in Maryland, accusing him of keeping diary entries from his time in the Trump administration at his home. Prosecutors allege that Bolton shared over a thousand pages of information about his daily activities through his personal email with two unauthorized individuals, identified as his wife and daughter. However, the transmission of classified information is not part of the charges he is set to plead guilty to.

Initially, Bolton faced eight counts of transmission of national defense information and ten counts of retention of national defense information. The hearing for his plea is scheduled for June 26.

Background and Reactions

Bolton’s legal troubles began after the publication of his 2020 memoir, which was critical of President Trump. Trump had called for Bolton’s arrest, arguing that the book contained classified information. Despite the closure of initial investigations by Trump’s Justice Department, a new inquiry was opened by the FBI during the Biden administration after Bolton’s email was breached by suspected Iranian hackers, revealing diary-like entries with top secret information.

This case has continued to receive support from career prosecutors and investigators, distinguishing it from other cases involving Trump’s perceived adversaries.

Original reporting: 40/29 / KHBS (NW Arkansas) — read the source article.