Former Trump Security Adviser Bolton Set to Plead Guilty to Retaining Classified Information

John Bolton, who held the position of national security adviser in the Trump administration, is expected to enter a guilty plea in federal court Friday to one count of retaining national security information.

The charge relates to Bolton's handling of classified materials after his time in office ended. Federal prosecutors brought the case against the former official, who departed the White House in 2019 following disagreements with Trump over foreign policy matters.

Bolton's legal team signaled the expected guilty plea ahead of the Friday court appearance. The charge of retaining national security information can result in criminal penalties including fines and prison time, depending on sentencing decisions by the presiding judge.

The case emerged from a broader Justice Department investigation into the handling of classified information by former Trump administration officials. Bolton's situation parallels other investigations the department has conducted involving retention of sensitive government documents.

Bolton authored a book about his tenure in the White House titled "The Room Where It Happened," which detailed his time as national security adviser and his conflicts with Trump administration policy positions. The State Department sought to block publication of the memoir, citing national security concerns, though the book ultimately reached publication in 2020.

The guilty plea marks a significant development in Bolton's legal situation and comes months after federal prosecutors indicated they planned to pursue charges against him.