John Bolton Will Plead Guilty In Classified Docs Case—Major Win For Trump’s Revenge Campaign

BreakingBusinessJohn Bolton Will Plead Guilty In Classified Docs Case—Major Win For Trump’s Revenge CampaignBySara Dorn,Forbes Staff. Sara Dorn is a Forbes news reporter who covers politics.Follow AuthorJun 04, 2026, 11:16am EDTToplineFormer Trump national security adviser-turned-nemesis John Bolton has reportedly agreed to plead guilty to mishandling classified documents from his time working in the first Trump administration—a rare win for President Donald Trump in his retribution campaign against his enemies after mostly failed cases.Former National Security Advisor John Bolton attends the Copenhagen Democracy Summit at the Royal Danish Playhouse on May 12, 2026. (Photo by Liselotte Sabroe / Ritzau Scanpix / AFP via Getty Images)Ritzau Scanpix/AFP via Getty ImagesKey FactsBolton will plead guilty to illegal retention of classified information and pay a fine, multiple outlets reported Thursday, citing unnamed sources. The fine is more than $2 million, CNN reported, and the charge carries a sentence of up to five years in prison.Bolton was charged with 18 counts alleging he kept 1,000 pages of notes, including classified information, chronicling his work in Trump’s White House and reportedly shared them with his wife and daughter.This is a developing story and will be updated.Got a tip? Share confidential information with Forbes.Editorial StandardsReprints & PermissionsLOADING VIDEO PLAYER...FORBES’ FEATURED Video