According to leaked information, first to CNN then again to Reuters, former National Security Advisor John Bolton will plead guilty to one count of retaining classified documents in a deal with the U.S. Department of Justice.
The deal reportedly includes a $2.5 million fine, and a sentencing recommendation of zero to five years to a judge in the case.
WASHINGTON, June 4 (Reuters) – John Bolton, a prominent critic of U.S. President Donald Trump who once served as his national security adviser, plans to plead guilty to mishandling classified documents and will pay a $2.25 million fine as part of a deal with federal prosecutors, three sources said on Thursday.
Bolton will plead guilty to one count of retaining classified information based on diary entries detailing his work in Trump’s first term at a court hearing on June 26, said the sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity to describe an agreement that had not yet been made public. The deal recommends a sentencing range of no prison time up to five years behind bars, two sources said. A federal judge will determine the final sentence.
Bolton is accused of sharing sensitive information with two of his relatives for possible use in a book he was writing, including notes on intelligence briefings and meetings with senior government officials and foreign leaders. He pleaded not guilty to 18 criminal charges, which included both transmission and retention of national defense information, last year.
[…] Two sources familiar with the plea agreement, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the deal alleges no wrongdoing with regard to Bolton’s book, but that Bolton was acknowledging that he made a mistake. (read more)
If accurate, I wonder what the source of his ability to pay $2.5 million would be.

Schadenfreude.
His book which used the info is the source.
Ok, I’ll buy it that…. WAIT A MINUTE! 🙂
I saw news reports from 2020 saying he had received a $2m retainer to write the book. Couldn’t find info on what royalties he made on the sales
If accurate, I wonder what the source of his ability to pay $2.5 million would be.
The money laundering via the book deal?
ALL book deals are a form of payoff to all government gangsters
Is this a felony he is admitting to?
If not…..bad deal.
Only pleading to one felony after being charged with 18 is a pretty sweet deal.
DC justice at its finest.
We have no idea if the reporting is accurate, because the media lies.
If it is accurate, many will be upset because Bolton isn’t being perp walked to the federal penitentiary.
It’s entirely possible that the plea deal, as lenient as it seems, is in return for information.
Who gave him the money? Where did they get the money from? Why did they give him the money?
Perhaps there are bigger fish to fry.
Sure, tick tock.
Bolton always thought he was the smartest person in the room, a legend in his own mind.
There are, but that just raises the question of how far this administration is willing to go? There are a lot of names and institutions involved. Does anyone seriously entertain the idea that the Warburg, Rockefeller, Morgan and Rothschild families will be gone after in the pursuit of justice? It’s a deep rabbit hole.
I have a shovel and am happy to dig to the very bottom of your deep rabbit hole to expose all of those who have put this country in the dangerous position it finds itself.
Thank you for asking.
Too much work digging!
Just pump some propane down the rabbit hole and apply olde sparky!
Kaboom!
Funny! I just got done putting’Gopher Gassers’ in mole tunnels this morning.
Who does he pay the money to? You hear about all these big fines people and companys get but where does it go? This will not cost Bolton a dime.
Excellent point!
Quality Learing Center, Minnesota.
Can’t figure these people out. President Trump gives them a White House position as a trusted advisor. A dream job with the man who won 76 million votes and a career enhancer on steroids where they are in the public eye day after day.
Instead of being loyal they stab President Trump in the back. I listened to Bolton on Sirius Radio in the morning driving to work. He was a frequent guest of Steve Bannon and the guy was great. Absolutely MAGA on Woodford Reserve Bourbon! WTF happens to them. Bolton wasn’t the only one! 😎
Having worked there once upon a time, I can only tell you that DC is a whole other country. The power goes straight to the political appointees heads generally (with limited exceptions).
🤨 If you remove your sunglasses 😎, you will see that they are not stabbing President Trump. They are stabbing us.
Most of these folks lack the skills and capability to successfully run for president, win, and manage the executive branch. They have ambition and in most cases, they have strong opinions on policy. Others see opportunity to grift. Many align themselves with the president to get closer to power, with the intent to influence policy. A few notable pod-casters and independent journalists hitched their wagon to the MAGA train for self-promotion. They’ve since split off and claim to be leading the conservative movement. A former VP consistently polls at less than 1%, but in his mind, he believes that his voice is relevant to the conservative movement. A podcaster very publicly torched his relationship with the president over foreign policy differences. He too attempts to lead.
Most of the current executive team under 47 is very different this time around. They appear to be very capable, supportive, and effective at implementing the president’s policies. Most of them likely don’t have ambition for higher office. I see a group of smart people that enjoy what they’re doing.
Great analysis Bat. It truly applies even more to the Democrats and RINOs. All of the Democrats lack the skills and capability to manage anything. Democrats want power but their lack of skills destroys the host.
Bolton supports endless wars all the time and Trump wasn’t having that!
“Bolton wasn’t the only one!”
TRUE. Just look at the above photo.
Notice that Pence is also giving Pres. Trump the *look.*
So, he will be an admitted felon.
Hopefully the Judge gives him at least as much time as was given to Bannon and Navarro.
Bannon and Navarro each served four months in Federal prison.
Wow merciful. Because the previous DOJ wanted to end lives including the President’s. He has a good heart.
Mr. Bolton, rule number one in the 48 Laws of Power is: “Never Outshine the Master [or try to as the case may be].”
I say 2 million dollars and he has to shave off the mustache.
No. He’s already too ugly.
Malicious prosecution. And I’m glad of it. With prejudice!
Bless you, Sundance!
When I saw the plea deal, I asked myself “How in Heaven’s name does a career Public Wage Slave accumulate $2.5 million dollars (equivalent to 10 THOUSAND Limited Edition $250 US Treasury Notes emblazoned with the portrait and signature of the Most Amazing POTUS, Donald J Trump, in our lifetimes, if ever) to cover his fine?
Enquiring minds want to know……!!! 🙂
Probably his stints in the private sector at a couple of white shoe law firms in D.C. Yale Law grad. He has a great resume for legal and political consulting. Republican fundraising gigs. Probably commands a large speaking fee. He’s been married since 1986 to a financial planner.
The photo at the end, so many working diligently to sideline Trump. It’s infuriating.
As blurry as the photo is, I can see Traitor Pence giving PDJT the Death Stare.
That was the Brute stare.
I would be more than happy if he serves less time as long as he discloses names, bank accounts, emails, and texts of fellow travelers involved in taking down PDJT and skimming $$$$ along the way.
But it was all baseless! Retaliation for just being a whistleblower! He was going to fight it all the way and be vindicated!
No jail, Tina Peters 9 years.
Tell me there isn’t a 2-tier justice system.
Dem’s rule!
Meh. At least he didn’t store tens of thousands of records in his hotel bathroom. I would imagine that could get somebody in a lot of trouble.
The mud slinging misfits are trying to make sure everyone knows he was connected to President Trump.
I know that this guy is a real hateful Trump guy and I hope he gets his ear but I’m more pissed about the four republicans senators that voted against the Save America Act.
I wish them upset stomachs for weeks
5 years? If you or I did that, as pure civilians, it would be 10 years. (Cf. 18 U.S.C. § 793).
Wait – I thought he was “the latest target” in DJT’s “weaponizing” of the DOJ! I thought he was looking forward to defending his lawful conduct!
What is it about this site that triggers McAfee antivirus scans?
I don’t even that that garbage program on my computer.
I’ve seen those (and worse – some that open 40 tabs in my browser) for months, as have others. It’s not the CTH site, it’s the CTH ad stack that’s dirty (ad network partners serving scareware). Use an ad blocker, which would kill these entirely.
CTH should switch to Google AdSense.
I use uBlock Origin on Firefox. Works well.
It’s weird, I know. Google how to get rid of the McAfee popups.There are several short videos on preventing the pop ups. I no longer get them.
Brave browser and Duck Duck Go search engines fixes this.
5 years for the scumbag…no less. If I pulled anything remotely like this crap my arse would be in the slammer right now.
copying from the AI plagiarists,
{
After being fired by President Trump in September 2019, John Bolton returned to the private sector as a senior advisor to the investment firm Rhône Group, a position he had held previously.
He also resumed his role as counsel at the law firm Kirkland & Ellis in Washington, D.C., and serves as a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, a conservative think tank.
}
Sounds like He was already turning his experience into wealth even before Trump picked him. Which is what all the big names do.
And besides the book sales, he went back to gold digging after Trump fired him.
I suspect that Bolton has built up a good bit of wealth to line his nest. Between Lawyers bills and fines he may end up as poor as Flynn. Too bad his allies are kiboshing the weaponization fund.
And Paul Ryan is a visiting fellow. Conservative is a bit off, but what does AI know?
Guilty but no leg irons? How does that work?
Check out who his judge is. He won’t be serving any time. I’ll be surprised if he doesn’t lower the fine.
The Babylon Bee has an inside track on the story 😉
https://babylonbee.com/news/john-bolton-pleads-guilty-sentenced-to-5-year-imprisonment-at-seaworld
Geee Tennessee……..
Will DOJ and the DNI get to review his book before it is published to make sure nothing classified is in it?
Walrus head should strongly consider retirement.
If classified material is involved, that’s a major issue, no matter what classification it carried! If so, throw the book at him. Classified information is only shared on a need to know basis. He was in a position that he knew better, Same goes to any other leaker!
Zero to five years sentencing recommendation by DOJ to judge. Not hard to figure out which one the judge will give him.
J6 folks got 10 years for strolling through the Capitol Building after the doors were opened and invited inside! Bolton will get probation! 😎
Origin of funds was the first thing to float thru my pea brain reading the second paragraph.. lol..
Advance on the blockbuster book was $2M.
Some sugardaddy will appear and pay his fine in exchange for his “cooperation”.
Zero to five? How about 9?
Apparently, the book I think is related to the classified information, 780,000 copies were sold on the first day. A 2 million dollar advance was agreed upon. So, “no wrong doing with regard to Bolton’s book.”.
https://www.wral.com/story/john-boltons-memoir-is-among-the-best-selling-trump-tell-all-books-of-his-presidency/19170292/
I think USAID can handle a $2.5 million “loan”.
I’m remain hopeful that this ridiculously light charge and sentence are indicative that Bolton sang like a canary.
A very punchable face!
I could see a donkey hoof kick that jackass’s face.
Please do not insult Jack Asses as they are noble, hard working smaller members of the equine family!
A federal judge in DC? Lol
We know what the prison time will be. Zero.
Does that $2.25 million fine go directly to the judge?
Zero to 5 years? I guarantee he gets the full zero.
And another insufferable bureaucrat gets flicked into the dustbin of history.
The real Lord of War.
Fake Justice
If it was leaked to CNN that means one of our favorite the letter agencies has brokers a deal that will keep him out of jail and launder his fine money.
Extend wrists. Slap!
You are part of The Club. Nothing will actually happen to you.
No jail time = No justice.
Crime pays
Wasn’t Bolton the one (of many clowns) accusing the GOAT of mishandling classified documents?
I think so. Ironic isn’t it?