Bolton expected – John Bolton, the former national security adviser to President Donald Trump, is expected to accept a plea deal in the case accusing him of mishandling classified documents, according to people familiar with the matter. The reported deal would include pleading
John Bolton is set to take another step in his classified documents case, with people familiar with the matter saying he is expected to reach a plea deal with the government.
The former national security adviser for President Donald Trump. 77. is expected to plead guilty to one count of illegal retention of sensitive national security documents and pay a fine of more than $2 million. Bolton is not facing a trial for all charges as he once did—at least. that is the direction the case appears to be taking.
The Justice Department indicted Bolton in October on 18 counts related to mishandling classified information. Bolton pleaded not guilty to all counts and accused President Trump of “weaponizing” the DOJ to charge his enemies with crimes.
For his legal team, the reported change is significant because it would shrink the case from 18 counts down to one, moving the focus from defending against the full set of allegations to accepting responsibility under a negotiated outcome.
Bolton’s next scheduled court appearance is in Maryland federal court. Court documents indicate he is expected to appear there for a rearraignment on June 26.
The Independent asked Bolton’s attorney, Abbe Lowell, for comment, as the matter heads toward a new posture.
The timeline is tightening even as Bolton maintains his long-running challenge to the prosecution’s motives. The sequence now points toward a deal that would resolve the federal case on a narrower count, after a broader indictment and a not-guilty plea that kept the fight alive in court.
John Bolton plea deal classified documents illegal retention DOJ Maryland federal court Abbe Lowell June 26