John Bolton, former National Security Advisor, pleads guilty

GREENBELT, Md. (NBC, KYMA) - Former National Security Advisor John Bolton pleaded guilty Friday morning to one count of unauthorized retention of National Defense information.

Prosecutors said he retained more than 1,000 pages of documents and notes containing National Defense information at his home and willfully communicated and transmitted them specifically to two family members, who were unauthorized to receive them, while using personal email and messaging accounts.

"One of the reasons why there are so many safeguards protecting National Defense information is so that this sensitive information does not fall into the hands of our enemies. And that is exactly what happened here. A cyber actor believed to be associated with the Islamic Republic of Iran hacked Mr. Bolton's personal e-mail account and gained unauthorized access to some of the classified and National Defense information in that account."

Kelly Hayes, U.S. Attorney

During the hearing, Bolton did not object to the prosecutors' summary of the case.

"Today's plea should be a warning to anyone, at t any level of government, if you leak America's secrets, or if you mishandle them, the United States Department of Justice, National Security Division and our US Attorney partners will be there to prosecute you," said Hayden P. O'Byrne, Deputy Assistant Attorney General of the National Security Division.

He faces a prison sentence of up to 60 months and has agreed to pay $2.25 million, prosecutors said.

Bolton is set to be sentenced October 28.