The former national security advisor of Donald Trump's first administration, John Bolton, pleaded guilty this Friday to illegally retaining classified information related to his work within the government. The agreement reached with the United States Department of Justice (DOJ) could allow him to avoid a prison sentence, although a federal judge will determine the final sentence.

Bolton, who after leaving the White House became one of former President Trump's main critics, accepted a plea agreement that includes a fine of $2.25 million for having kept and shared personal notes with sensitive information obtained during his time as an official. These records were related to meetings, intelligence reports and national security activities.

According to official information, the investigation focused on documents and diary-type entries that Bolton would have shared with two relatives while working on a book about his time in the Trump administration. The case is not directly related to the content published in his memoirs, but rather to the handling of information that the authorities considered classified.

John Bolton's settlement with the DOJ

During the hearing before federal judge Theodore D. Chuang, Bolton accepted the facts presented by prosecutors and confirmed his responsibility in the case.

“I did, your honor,” Bolton responded when the judge asked him if he had committed the acts indicated. Additionally, he expressed regret for his actions.

The agreement establishes that the sentence could range from avoiding prison to a maximum of five years in prison. However, the final decision will depend on the judge, who is not required to completely follow the terms negotiated between the defense and prosecutors.

As part of the agreement, Bolton must also turn over information related to the withheld materials and complete 100 hours of community service focused on preventing the improper disclosure of classified information.

A case that once again puts the handling of secret documents under the microscope

The John Bolton case joins a series of investigations related to the handling of classified documents by high-level officials.

Bolton was Trump's national security adviser for just over a year before leaving the administration in 2019. He later published the book “The Room Where It Happened,” a critical work about his experience inside the White House that sparked a legal dispute over possible references to sensitive information.

Bolton's sentencing is scheduled for October 28, the date on which it will be determined whether the former official will face a prison sentence or a different sanction.