John Bolton, the former national security adviser to Donald Trump, has pleaded guilty to mishandling classified information in a case that has sent tremors through Washington and raised eyebrows in London. The plea, entered in a federal court in Washington D.C.
, comes after a lengthy investigation into Bolton's memoir 'The Room Where It Happened', in which he allegedly disclosed sensitive intelligence that could compromise sources and methods. Sources close to the matter confirm that Bolton admitted to one count of unauthorised disclosure of classified information, a felony that carries a potential sentence of up to 10 years in prison. The plea deal, unsealed today, reveals that Bolton agreed to cooperate with ongoing investigations in exchange for a reduced sentence.
This is a man who has long positioned himself as a hardliner on national security, but the irony is not lost on those who watched him walk the halls of power. Uncovered documents from the Department of Justice detail how Bolton's manuscript contained passages that were flagged by intelligence officials as containing classified information, including details about surveillance of foreign leaders and nuclear postures. British intelligence allies, including MI5 and MI6, are monitoring the fallout closely.
A source in Whitehall told this reporter that any leak of shared intelligence could strain the 'Five Eyes' alliance, which relies on absolute trust. Bolton's actions, they said, 'undermine that trust'. The case highlights the precarious balance between a tell-all memoir and the duty to protect state secrets.
Bolton, who was once a key figure in Trump's foreign policy, now faces the prospect of prison. His lawyer declined to comment, but the silence speaks volumes. For those of us who have followed the money and the secrets through the corridors of power, this is a cautionary tale.
The unaccountable power of advisers who think they are above the law has finally caught up with one of them. The question now is: how deep does the rot go?
