June 4, 2026, 10:14 p.mJune 4, 2026, 10:14 p.m
John Bolton was National Security Advisor from 2018 to 2019.Image: keystone
According to the media, former US National Security Advisor John Bolton wants to admit his guilt in the trial regarding the handling of secret documents. The guilty plea was part of an agreement with the public prosecutor’s office, reported CNN and the New York Times, among others, citing people familiar with the process. Bolton served as Trump’s national security adviser during his first term in office and is now one of the president’s most prominent critics.
The 77-year-old is accused of passing on classified information and illegally storing top-secret documents in his home during his time as Trump’s national security adviser.
Trial date set for the end of June
Bolton pleaded not guilty in October 2025. According to court documents from the responsible court in Greenbelt, Maryland, a trial date is scheduled for June 26, at which the 77-year-old will be summoned to enter a new plea.
According to the media, part of the planned agreement is a payment from Bolton of over 2 million US dollars (around 1.7 million euros). According to the New York Times, the court still has to approve the agreement. Nevertheless, he could face up to five years in prison.
Resignation after dispute with Trump
Bolton served as National Security Advisor for a time during Trump’s first term (2017-2021). The long-time diplomat, who is considered a foreign policy hardliner, resigned after around a year and a half in office in a dispute with Trump. He then became one of his harshest critics: in 2020, Bolton published a tell-all book in which he painted a damning picture of Trump. The Trump administration tried in vain to stop the publication.
An admission of guilt should be seen as a victory for the US President, as he repeatedly tries to have prominent opponents officially accused by the judiciary. Last year, the indictment for alleged false statements against former FBI Director James Comey, which is said to have come about under pressure from Trump, made headlines. (sda/dpa)