Former Trump adviser John Bolton to plead guilty to retaining national security information

Key Points:

• John Bolton, former national security adviser under President Trump, has agreed to plead guilty to one count of retaining national security information, according to sources familiar with the case.
• Bolton will be arraigned again on June 26, with a judge having up to 90 days to sentence him, facing potential penalties ranging from probation to 60 months in prison, along with a $2.25 million restitution payment.
• The charge relates to Bolton describing national security information in an electronic diary shared with family members, with no allegations of leaking or sharing documents with foreign adversaries.
• Bolton initially pleaded not guilty to multiple counts of mishandling classified information but changed his plea to avoid a trial that could disclose more classified information, citing concerns about ongoing international issues.
• Bolton’s legal troubles followed his falling out with Trump after writing a critical book about his tenure; Trump had publicly called for Bolton’s prosecution, while Bolton maintained he complied with legal requirements regarding classified material.