Former Trump adviser Bolton reaches plea deal over mishandling classified documents, CNN reports

U.S. President Donald Trump's former national security adviser, John Bolton, who has become a persistent critic of the Republican president, is expected to plead guilty over mishandling classified documents, CNN reported on Thursday, citing three sources familiar with the matter.

Bolton intends to plead guilty to one count of illegal retention of sensitive national security documents and has also agreed to pay a more than $2 million fine, CNN reported.

Court records showed on Thursday that Bolton was scheduled to appear in court to enter a new plea in the case on June 26. The records did not indicate how Bolton would plead.

He pleaded not guilty when he was first arraigned on October 17, 2025 on charges of mishandling classified information.

(Reporting by Bhargav Acharya and Ismail Shakil, Luc Cohen; Editing by Daphne Psaledakis and Doina Chiacu)

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This story was originally published June 4, 2026 at 7:36 AM.