(Luis Cornelio, Headline USA) Some of the most vocal anti-Trump figures are calling on a federal judge to spare newly minted convicted felon John Bolton from jail time ahead of his sentencing hearing.
Mike Pence, Karl Rove, Mitt Romney, Liz Cheney, Adam Kinzinger, Larry Hogan and Bill Kristol have all submitted letters of support urging Theodore D. Chuang, a judge on the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland, to show leniency at Bolton’s Dec. 4 sentencing hearing. More than 130 other individuals also signed similar letters.
Bolton pleaded guilty to one felony count of willfully retaining national defense information as part of broader efforts to gather information for one of his books, The Room Where It Happened.
As described in his guilty plea, Bolton sent classified information to some of his family members, none of whom were authorized to access such information, while serving as President Donald Trump’s national security advisor from 2018 to 2019.
Despite the severity of Bolton’s offenses, Pence urged Chuang to “show lenience at sentencing so that John may live out his remaining days surrounded by family and friends and in continued service to the vital national interests and values of the United States.”
Similarly, Rove wrote that it was his “prayerful hope that” Bolton’s years of service are considered during the sentencing deliberations.
Meanwhile, Romney described Bolton as a “man of uncommon character who served his country with honor and distinction.” Cheney echoed these sentiments, calling Bolton “a tremendous public servant and patriot with a deep dedication to our Constitution.”
🚨NEW FILING🚨
John Bolton's allies are pleading with a judge to NOT give him prison time in his sentencing memorandum.
Instead, they're begging for probation.
Who's vouching for Bolton?
Fmr Vice President Mike Pence, “I would respectfully encourage his Honor to show leniency… pic.twitter.com/IacbzK4CV1
— Breanna Morello (@BreannaMorello) November 3, 2026
These glowing descriptions stand in stark contrast to the allegations announced in a 19-count grand jury indictment against Bolton in the District of Maryland in October 2025.
At the time, the indictment alleged that Bolton’s scheme resulted in classified information being hacked by the Islamic Republic of Iran, potentially putting national security at risk.
As part of the plea deal, Bolton faces a maximum prison sentence of 60 months. By pleading guilty, Bolton also agreed to pay $2.25 million in legal fees to the U.S. government.
Bolton additionally forfeited his federal retirement pay and annuity, with neither his survivors eligible to collect those payments, according to the DOJ.
In a June 2026 statement announcing Bolton’s guilty plea, acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Hayden O’Byrne said Bolton had betrayed the trust placed in him as the country’s national security advisor.
“Today’s resolution ought to send a message to other public officials whom the public has entrusted with classified, national defense information,” O’Byrne said. “If you willfully mishandle these state secrets, the Department of Justice, led by the National Security Division, will investigate and prosecute you to the fullest extent of the law.”
IT’S OFFICIAL: John Bolton is now a FELON after pleading GUILTY to unlawful retention of national defense information
He and his mustache have agreed to pay a $2.25 MILLION fine, face up to 60 MONTHS in prison, and forfeit his pension.
“As Mr. Bolton just admitted, he put our… pic.twitter.com/cL01BAKvAu
— Paul White Gold Eagle (@PaulGoldEagle) November 3, 2026
