Trump’s former national security adviser Bolton pleads guilty in suspected Iran hacking case

Former US national security adviser John Bolton, who is hawkish and pro-Israel, pleads guilty in federal US court to violating the espionage act.

Bolton, while serving as US President Donald Trump’s national security adviser in 2018 and 2019, included highly sensitive, top secret information in personal “diary” entries about his daily activities, the Department of Justice says.

The classified information, which Bolton learned through his official government role, included military plans for foreign governments, covert US actions in other countries and intelligence about foreign leaders.

Bolton forwarded the information to two family members, who were not cleared for the top secret information, via non-governmental email and messaging platforms, and retained copies at his home, which was not permitted.

After Bolton left office, a cyber actor that investigators believe is connected to Iran hacked Bolton’s personal email, the statement says.

Bolton reported the hack, but did not divulge that the accounts included sensitive material.

Bolton is facing a maximum sentence of five years in prison and agreed to pay a $2.25 million fine.

Bolton is one of several prominent critics whom the administration has sought to prosecute.