Former Trump Security Advisor Pleads Guilty to Illegally Retaining Classified Information
· Telemundo McAllen (KTLM)
John Bolton, the former national security advisor under President Donald Trump, pleaded guilty on Friday to illegally retaining classified information, finalizing a deal with federal prosecutors that could allow him to avoid prison time. Bolton, who became an outspoken critic of Trump after serving in the Republican's first administration, is scheduled to be sentenced on October 28 by U.S. District Judge Theodore Chuang in Greenbelt, Maryland. The 77-year-old Bethesda, Maryland resident pleaded guilty to a single count of illegally retaining national defense information, which carries a maximum sentence of 10 years. His plea agreement with the Department of Justice could allow him to avoid jail time, but the judge will ultimately decide his punishment. The plea deal recommends a cap of five years for any prison sentence, but the judge is not bound by that part of the agreement. Bolton, who also agreed to pay a $2.25 million fine, can withdraw his guilty plea if the judge imposes a longer prison sentence or a higher fine. He must pay half of the fine within five days of his guilty plea and the remainder within 90 days. He also agreed to forfeit his pension from his federal service. The agreement also requires him to undergo a briefing with federal intelligence officials and complete up to 100 hours of community service.
AI summary · Source: Telemundo McAllen (KTLM) →
