INTERNACIONAL
Ex-Trump official John Bolton pleads guilty to 1 of 18 counts in classified docs indictment
NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!
Former White House National Security Advisor John Bolton pleaded guilty on Friday to only one count of an 18-count indictment, but he will not be sentenced until the fall.
During a hearing at the federal district court in Greenbelt, Maryland, Bolton pleaded guilty to the twelfth count, alleging he had unauthorized possession of a document related to national defense.
The count typically has a maximum penalty of 10 years behind bars, but both sides agreed that five years will be the most prison time that can be imposed.
U.S. Attorney Kelly O. Hayes addressed reporters outside the courthouse, emphasizing that this case demonstrated that «no one is above the law.» Hayes declined to take questions.
FORMER NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISOR JOHN BOLTON TO PLEAD GUILTY TO RETAINING CLASSIFIED INFORMATION: SOURCES
Former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations and former National Security Advisor John Bolton arrives for a plea deal hearing at U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland on June 26, 2026, in Greenbelt, Maryland. (Al Drago)
«The rules governing classified and national defense information apply equally to everyone, regardless of position, and regardless of how long you have served with the United States government,» Hayes began her brief remarks.
«The national defense information at issue in this case was classified at the highest classification levels,» Hayes added. «It contained human intelligence using sensitive sources and methods, and it discussed a covert action program. Mr. Bolton admitted he shared more than 1,000 pages of information about his day-to-day activities as the national security advisor.»
A prosecutor from the Department of Justice told Judge Theodore Chuang that Bolton also faces a fine of $2.25 million, half of which should be paid within 5 days, a required debrief with a U.S. intelligence committee, three years of supervised release and up to 100 hours of community service.
Bolton, who served as national security advisor from April 2018 to September 2019, agreed that he would not get an annuity or retirement from his federal service.
When the judge asked Bolton if he was pleading guilty after having heard the summary of facts in the case, the former Trump official said: «I am your honor, and I’m sorry for it.»
The sentencing was set for October 28. The government plans to dismiss the remaining counts at that hearing.
Former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations and former National Security Advisor John Bolton walks through security as he arrives for a plea deal hearing at U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland on June 26, 2026 in Greenbelt, Maryland. (Al Drago)
By pleading guilty, Bolton waived his right to appeal the sentence and conviction. Chuang said Bolton will be allowed to withdraw his guilty pleas before sentencing. That window will close once the sentencing phase concludes.
Authorities first raided Bolton’s home and office in August of last year. He was indicted in October, originally being charged with both transmission and retention of classified documents.
JOHN BOLTON INDICTED WITH IMPROPER HANDLING OF CLASSIFIED DOCUMENTS
According to the indictment, the documents Bolton illegally kept had intelligence about future attacks by an adversarial group in another country.
Then-National Security Advisor John R. Bolton listens as then-President Donald J. Trump meets with Prime Minister of the Netherlands Mark Rutte in the Oval Office at the White House July 18, 2019, in Washington. (Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post via Getty Images)
Prosecutors said the documents also contained information about a liaison partner sharing sensitive information with the U.S. intelligence community, as well as intelligence that a foreign adversary was planning a missile launch in the future.
Many of the documents were labeled «TOP SECRET,» according to prosecutors.
«From on or about April 9, 2018, through at least on or about August 22, 2025, BOLTON abused his position as National Security Advisor by sharing more than a thousand pages of information about his day-to-day activities as the National Security Advisor,» the indictment read.
BOLTON MAY BE IN HOT WATER AS FBI INVESTIGATION EXPANDS BEYOND CONTROVERSIAL BOOK
FBI agents raid the Bethesda, Maryland, home of John Bolton on August 22, 2025. (Andrew Harnik)
«BOLTON also unlawfully retained documents, writings, and notes relating to the national defense, including information classified up to the TOP SECRET/SCI level, in his home in Montgomery County, Maryland,» it continued.
Bolton shared this information with two family members through his personal email account, according to prosecutors.
That email account, per court records, was hacked by someone believed to be associated with Iran after Bolton left office.
Since Bolton’s departure, him and Trump have been bitter enemies, with the two men frequently attacking each other over foreign policy disagreements.
Copies of the new book ‘The Room Where It Happened’ by John Bolton are displayed at Book Passage on June 23, 2020 in Corte Madera, California. (Justin Sullivan)
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP
At the time, Trump said he fired Bolton, but Bolton claimed he resigned of his own accord.
Bolton published a memoir in 2020 titled «The Room Where It Happened,» which characterized Trump as an erratic and irrational leader.
The Trump administration sued to block the book’s release, claiming it contained national security secrets that were classified. A federal judge allowed the book to hit shelves, and Bolton was never prosecuted for anything that was included in it.
donald trump, politics, federal courts, national security
INTERNACIONAL
EXCLUSIVE: Hawley expands USPS probe with blistering letter accusing chief of dodging Congress
NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!
FIRST ON FOX: Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., is expanding his investigation into the U.S. Postal Service, accusing Postmaster General David Steiner of ignoring congressional oversight while demanding records on the agency’s use of outside restructuring consultants as USPS projects billions more in financial losses.
In a letter obtained by Fox News Digital, the Missouri Republican said his office has received no documents in response to a June 30 oversight request and informed Steiner that the investigation will now examine USPS’ hiring of consulting firm Alvarez & Marsal.
«To date, my office has received no documents in compliance with my June 30 letter,» Hawley wrote. «Is it your intention simply to ignore statutory oversight? I expect full compliance with my oversight requests immediately.»
SENATOR JOSH HAWLEY DEMANDS ANSWERS FROM MLB ON ‘PATTERN OF DISCRIMINATION’ OVER WARNINGS TO GIANTS PLAYERS
Postmaster General David Steiner testifies before the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee during a June 24 hearing on reforming the U.S. Postal Service’s business model in Washington, D.C. (Valerie Plesch/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
Hawley said Congress must review USPS’ relationship with Alvarez & Marsal, a restructuring firm Steiner disclosed earlier this year had been hired to help the postal service plan for its financial future.
The senator questioned why USPS is paying outside consultants while projecting another multibillion-dollar loss and continuing to award executive bonuses.
«It is surprising to me that as you complain about this monetary crisis, you and other USPS executives continue to rake in annual bonus packages and have found plenty of cash to hire these outside consultants like A&M — all while service declines and far too many Americans are not receiving their mail,» Hawley wrote.
RED-STATE AUDITOR REPORTS ‘EXPLOSION’ OF FRAUD TIPS AS HE TARGETS STATE EMPLOYEES ‘RACKING UP’ TAXPAYER WASTE
Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., appears during a Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee hearing on Capitol Hill July 16, 2026, in Washington, D.C. (Eric Lee/Getty Images)
Hawley is requesting records detailing who hired Alvarez & Marsal, how much the firm has been paid and whether it was asked to recommend closing rural post offices, limiting rural delivery or reviewing executive compensation. He also inquired about whether USPS plans to release the firm’s recommendations to Congress or the public.
The expanded investigation comes weeks after Fox News Digital first reported Hawley launched an oversight probe into USPS over dumped mail in St. Louis, demanding records on delayed deliveries, possible criminal misconduct and executive bonuses.
That inquiry followed a contentious Senate hearing in June, where Hawley pressed Steiner over thousands of pieces of dumped mail discovered in St. Louis.
Hawley later criticized the postmaster general for saying he was unaware of the incident and publicly called for his resignation if he refused to return his performance bonus.
UFO WHISTLEBLOWER CLAIMS BILLIONS IN SECRET SPENDING HIDDEN FROM CONGRESS
A row of USPS delivery trucks parked outside a postal site. (Spencer Jones/GHI/UCG/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)
In his latest letter, Hawley said the USPS has yet to comply with his original document requests.
Hawley noted USPS has lost an estimated $25 billion over the past three fiscal years and is projecting at least an $8.1 billion loss in fiscal year 2026 despite reforms Congress approved in 2022 to improve the agency’s finances.
«If the Postal Service plans to address its losses through hiring A&M, then Congress must be apprised of the nature of the engagement and A&M’s recommendations to ensure that USPS service standards — such as universal service and rural delivery — do not continue to decline in any agency restructuring plan,» Hawley wrote.
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP
The senator requested USPS respond to his expanded oversight questions by July 24.
USPS did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.
Fox News Digital’s Alexandra Koch contributed to this report.
usps controversy, politics, organization, investigations, public sector
INTERNACIONAL
La Casa Blanca aseguró que Irán sigue interesado en alcanzar un acuerdo con Estados Unidos pese a la escalada militar
La Casa Blanca aseguró este jueves que las conversaciones con Irán continúan abiertas a pesar del reciente recrudecimiento de las hostilidades entre ambos países. La Administración de Donald Trump afirmó que Teherán mantiene su disposición a negociar un nuevo acuerdo, aunque dejó claro que Estados Unidos seguirá respondiendo militarmente a cualquier acción iraní que afecte la seguridad marítima en el estrecho de Ormuz.
La portavoz de la Casa Blanca, Karoline Leavitt, sostuvo que el presidente estadounidense mantiene abierta la vía diplomática mientras exige que Irán cumpla los compromisos asumidos durante las negociaciones.
“El presidente les exigirá responsabilidades cuando den la espalda a las palabras que le han expresado a Estados Unidos. Pero, al mismo tiempo, siempre está abierto a la diplomacia”, declaró Leavitt durante una rueda de prensa.
La portavoz confirmó que los contactos entre ambos países no se han interrumpido. “Han expresado que todavía quieren alcanzar un acuerdo con el presidente. Estamos hablando con ellos”, afirmó.
Sin embargo, advirtió que la Administración Trump no modificará su postura frente a los recientes incidentes en el estrecho de Ormuz. “El presidente no va a permitir que disparen contra embarcaciones en el estrecho sin que haya consecuencias”, señaló.
Las declaraciones llegan un día después de que Trump agradeciera públicamente a Irán por la liberación de una ciudadana estadounidense que permanecía detenida desde diciembre de 2024, un gesto que fue interpretado como una posible señal de acercamiento entre ambos países pese al deterioro de la situación militar.
La Casa Blanca explicó que la reciente ofensiva estadounidense fue consecuencia de lo que considera una violación de los compromisos alcanzados previamente con Teherán.
Según Leavitt, el memorando de entendimiento firmado por ambas partes establecía que Irán debía abstenerse de atacar embarcaciones comerciales que transitaran por el estrecho de Ormuz.
“La razón de los ataques de los últimos días es que Irán violó el memorando de entendimiento que alcanzamos con ellos”, afirmó.
La portavoz añadió que “específicamente, en el memorando que firmaron, no debían disparar contra buques comerciales que atravesaran el estrecho de Ormuz y, lamentablemente, tomaron la decisión de hacerlo”.
Leavitt sostuvo además que la Armada estadounidense permanece desplegada en la zona para garantizar la seguridad del tránsito marítimo y aseguró que el paso continúa abierto para los barcos que no tengan como origen o destino puertos iraníes.
Durante la conferencia de prensa también defendió la continuidad de las operaciones militares estadounidenses. “Podemos atacar a Irán en cualquier momento, en cualquier lugar”, afirmó.
Asimismo, aseguró que la República Islámica “ya no es el Estado terrorista tan fuerte y poderoso que era” antes de la denominada Operación Epic Fury, lanzada por Estados Unidos contra objetivos iraníes.
El Comando Central estadounidense ha ejecutado en los últimos días varias operaciones militares contra instalaciones iraníes con el argumento de reducir la capacidad de Teherán para amenazar la navegación comercial en el estrecho de Ormuz.
Al mismo tiempo, Trump advirtió recientemente que podría ampliar la campaña militar y ordenar ataques contra centrales eléctricas, puentes y otras infraestructuras iraníes si el régimen de los ayatollahs no regresa a la mesa de negociación.
La Casa Blanca informó además que Trump ofrecerá este jueves por la noche un mensaje televisado dirigido a la nación centrado en la protección del sistema electoral estadounidense.
“El presidente Trump pronunciará un importante discurso a la nación sobre la protección de la integridad de nuestras elecciones, y alentamos a todos los estadounidenses a que lo vean”, anunció Leavitt.
Durante la misma conferencia, Leavitt confirmó que Gabriel Pérez, operador del teleprompter de Trump, fue apartado de sus funciones mientras autoridades federales investigan presuntas operaciones irregulares en contratos de predicción vinculados a discursos públicos.
La portavoz indicó que el empleado se encontraba inicialmente con licencia sin goce de sueldo y posteriormente confirmó que ya no continuará trabajando en la Casa Blanca. Mientras tanto, la investigación sigue en manos de los reguladores federales, sin que hasta el momento se hayan presentado cargos públicos.
Leavitt también confirmó que el presidente Donald Trump asistirá el próximo domingo a la final del Mundial de Fútbol que disputarán Argentina y España en el estadio de Nueva York-Nueva Jersey.
“Esperamos con entusiasmo el partido del domingo y sé que el presidente también espera asistir”, declaró.
La funcionaria añadió que la presencia de Trump marcará el cierre de lo que calificó como “el Mundial más visto, más seguro y más exitoso de la historia de Estados Unidos”.
Leavitt señaló además que desconoce si el mandatario tiene preferencia por alguno de los dos finalistas. “Estoy segura de que les dará una respuesta divertida”, comentó al ser consultada por los periodistas.
La portavoz también informó que Trump participará el viernes en una recepción organizada por la FIFA en la Trump Tower de Nueva York, como parte de las actividades oficiales previas al encuentro decisivo.
Domestic,Politics,North America,Government / Politics
INTERNACIONAL
El Tribunal de Justicia europeo avaló la polémica ley de amnistía que Pedro Sánchez prometió a los independentistas catalanes
Cuáles eran las dudas
Las sentencias del Tribunal europeo
“Para apaciguar un conflicto”
¿Vuelve Puigdemont?
Mauro Icardi se quedó sin club y Yanina Latorre no tuvo piedad: «Es un nabo que no sirve para nada y un…»
El Senado aprobó un paquete de 29 pliegos judiciales y 27 ascensos diplomáticos
Argentina vs España Mundial 2026: Árbitro confirmado para la gran final
Si escuchás golondrinas cantar cerca de tu casa o jardín, te contamos qué significa y por qué es una buena señal
“Si no te gusta, andate a Cuba”: Milei defendió al liberalismo y se cruzó con un asistente en pleno discurso
El Gobierno ya se prepara para el operativo de llegada de la selección y espera saber qué define la AFA
Operativo Reelección 2027: Los 8 Cambios Urgentes que Javier Milei Debe Implementar para Asegurar su Continuidad
El machete del arquero inglés en una botella que sorprendió a Messi tras el triunfo: el dardo de un ayudante de Scaloni a Inglaterra
Quiénes se quedan con las esquinas más cotizadas de la Ciudad tras el cierre de sucursales bancarias
Aumentó 900% la cantidad de repartidores de plataforma en los últimos 6 años
DEPORTE19 horas agoEl machete del arquero inglés en una botella que sorprendió a Messi tras el triunfo: el dardo de un ayudante de Scaloni a Inglaterra
- CHIMENTOS3 días ago
Yanina Latorre opinó sobre el partido de Argentina versus Inglaterra: “No tiene nada que ver con la guerra de Malvinas”
- INTERNACIONAL3 días ago
Democratic socialists erupt over 2028 endorsement as AOC speculation grows: ‘Dangerous path’
