Hayes said the successful prosecution of John Bolton meant that "no is one above the law."
FormerWhite HouseNational Security Advisor John Bolton pleaded guilty on Friday to only one count of an 18-count indictment,. he will not be sentenced until the fall.
During a hearing at the federal district court in Greenbelt,Maryland. Bolton pleaded guilty to the twelfth count, alleging he had unauthorized possession of a document related tonational defense.
The count typically has a maximum penalty of 10 years behind bars,. both sides agreed that five years will be the most prison time that can be imposed.
U.S. Attorney Kelly O. Hayes addressed reporters outside the courthouse. emphasizing that this case demonstrated that "no one is above the law." Hayes declined to take questions.
FORMER NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISOR JOHN BOLTON TO PLEAD GUILTY TO RETAINING CLASSIFIED INFORMATION: SOURCES
Former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations and former National Security Advisor John Bolton arrives for a plea deal hearing at U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland on June 26, 2026, in Greenbelt, Maryland.(Al Drago)
"The rules governing classified. national defense information apply equally to everyone, regardless of position, and regardless of how long you have served with the United States government," Hayes began her brief remarks.
"The national defense information at issue in this case was classified at the highest classification levels," Hayes added. "It contained human intelligence using sensitive sources and methods, and it discussed a covert action program. Mr. Bolton admitted he shared more than 1,000 pages of information about his day-to-day activities as the national security advisor."
A prosecutor from theDepartment of Justicetold Judge Theodore Chuang that Bolton also faces a fine of $2.25 million. half of which should be paid within 5 days, a required debrief with a U.S. intelligence committee, three years of supervised release and up to 100 hours of community service.
Bolton. who served as national security advisor from April 2018 to September 2019, agreed that he would not get an annuity or retirement from his federal service.
When the judge asked Bolton if he was pleading guilty after having heard the summary of facts in the case, the former Trump official said: "I am your honor,. I’m sorry for it."
The sentencing was set for October 28. The government plans to dismiss the remaining counts at that hearing.
Former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations. former National Security Advisor John Bolton walks through security as he arrives for a plea deal hearing at U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland on June 26, 2026 in Greenbelt, Maryland.(Al Drago)
By pleading guilty, Bolton waived his right to appeal the sentence and conviction. Chuang said Bolton will be allowed to withdraw his guilty pleas before sentencing. That window will close once the sentencing phase concludes.
Authorities first raided Bolton's home and office in August of last year. He was indicted in October, originally being charged with both transmission and retention of classified documents.
JOHN BOLTON INDICTED WITH IMPROPER HANDLING OF CLASSIFIED DOCUMENTS
According to the indictment. the documents Bolton illegally kept had intelligence about future attacks by an adversarial group in another country.
Then-National Security Advisor John R. Bolton listens as then-President Donald J. Trump meets with Prime Minister of the Netherlands Mark Rutte in the Oval Office at the White House July 18. 2019, in Washington.(Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post via Getty Images)
Prosecutors said the documents also contained information about a liaison partner sharing sensitive information with the U.S. intelligence community, as well as intelligence that a foreign adversary was planning a missile launch in the future.
Many of the documents were labeled "TOP SECRET," according to prosecutors.
"From on or about April 9. 2018, through at least on or about August 22, 2025, BOLTON abused his position as National Security Advisor by sharing more than a thousand pages of information about his day-to-day activities as the National Security Advisor," the indictment read.
BOLTON MAY BE IN HOT WATER AS FBI INVESTIGATION EXPANDS BEYOND CONTROVERSIAL BOOK
FBI agents raid the Bethesda, Maryland, home of John Bolton on August 22, 2025.(Andrew Harnik)
"BOLTON also unlawfully retained documents, writings,. notes relating to the national defense, including information classified up to the TOP SECRET/SCI level, in his home in Montgomery County, Maryland," it continued.
Bolton shared this information with two family members through his personal email account, according to prosecutors.
That email account, per court records, was hacked by someone believed to be associated with Iran after Bolton left office.
Since Bolton's departure, him. Trump have been bitter enemies, with the two men frequently attacking each other over foreign policy disagreements.
Copies of the new book 'The Room Where It Happened' by John Bolton are displayed at Book Passage on June 23. 2020 in Corte Madera, California.(Justin Sullivan)
At the time, Trump said he fired Bolton, but Bolton claimed he resigned of his own accord.
Bolton published a memoirin 2020 titled "The Room Where It Happened," which characterized Trump as an erratic and irrational leader.
The Trump administration sued to block the book's release, claiming it contained national security secrets that were classified. A federal judge allowed the book to hit shelves,. Bolton was never prosecuted for anything that was included in it.
James Cirrone is a writer on the Breaking/Trending News team at Fox News Digital. Story tips can be sent to james.cirrone@fox.com.
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