June 4 (Reuters) - John Bolton, who served as U.S. national security adviser and has since become a persistent critic of President Donald Trump, is reportedly set to enter a guilty plea in a case concerning the handling of classified documents, according to CNN, which cited three sources familiar with the matter. The reported agreement would resolve a single count accusing Bolton of illegal retention of sensitive national security documents and include payment of a fine of more than $2 million.
Court records made public on Thursday show Bolton is scheduled to appear in court on June 26 to enter a new plea in the matter. Those filings do not state how Bolton would plead at that hearing. When the case first moved forward, Bolton pleaded not guilty at his arraignment on October 17, 2025, on charges related to mishandling classified information.
The developments reported by CNN and reflected in court filings center on one criminal count - illegal retention of classified materials - and a monetary penalty described as exceeding $2 million. The court calendar entry sets the June 26 date as the next formal step in the case, but the court records cited do not disclose further procedural details or the specific language of any agreement.
Details released so far are limited to the single-count charge, the size of the agreed fine, the scheduled court appearance, and the contrast with Bolton's initial not guilty plea in October 2025. Public documents show only that a new plea is expected to be entered on June 26; they do not provide confirmation of the plea itself or any additional terms beyond the amount of the fine reported.
Context and immediate procedural facts
- Reported planned guilty plea to one count of illegal retention of sensitive national security documents.
- Reported agreement includes payment of a fine greater than $2 million.
- Court records schedule a June 26 appearance for Bolton to enter a new plea; records do not indicate the plea decision.
- Bolton pleaded not guilty at his initial arraignment on October 17, 2025.
The publicly available information at this stage is concise and procedural in nature. The filings confirm an upcoming court date and record prior plea information, while reporting from media outlets has supplied the specific assertion that Bolton intends to plead guilty and has agreed to the stated fine. Neither the court records nor the available reports provide additional details about the precise terms of any plea agreement beyond what is noted here.