Former U.S. National Security Adviser John Bolton has agreed to plead guilty to a single count of retaining classified information as part of a deal with the Justice Department that could allow him to avoid prison time.
The agreement would resolve a criminal case filed in October that accused Bolton of mishandling and sharing classified information, including diary-like notes from his time in government.
According to reports, Bolton would face a $2.25 million fine, while any prison sentence would be capped at five years.
The final punishment will be determined by a federal judge.
A re-arraignment hearing is scheduled for June 26 in federal court in Greenbelt, Maryland.
The plea agreement significantly reduces the legal risks Bolton faced after prosecutors charged him with 18 counts related to the retention and dissemination of classified information.
Investigators alleged that Bolton shared more than 1,000 pages of diary-like entries with two family members while preparing a memoir about his government service.
Court documents said some of the material was classified at the top-secret level and included information obtained from intelligence briefings, meetings with U.S. officials and discussions with foreign leaders.
Prosecutors alleged that some documents contained information about foreign adversaries, intelligence-gathering methods, missile launch plans and covert U.S. operations.
The indictment also cited messages exchanged with relatives after documents were shared.
Bolton has maintained that he acted appropriately and previously said he fully informed authorities about a cyberattack involving his personal email account.
The case unfolded amid broader political disputes surrounding the Justice Department's handling of investigations involving prominent critics of President Donald Trump.
Bolton, who served as Trump's national security adviser from 2018 to 2019, later became one of the president's most outspoken critics following his departure from the administration.
His 2020 memoir, "The Room Where It Happened," drew sharp criticism from Trump and prompted an unsuccessful effort by the administration to block its publication over concerns that it contained classified information.
Following his indictment, Bolton described the charges as part of what he called an effort by Trump to target political opponents.
Trump has repeatedly criticized Bolton, while Bolton has continued to challenge the president's policies and leadership.
The Justice Department declined to comment on the reported plea agreement.