Former National Security Advisor John Bolton pleaded guilty on Friday to unauthorized possession of a classified national defense document, according to court records from a hearing held in the U.S. District Court in Greenbelt, Maryland. The guilty plea came as part of a deal in which prosecutors agreed to drop the remaining 17 charges against him.

Bolton entered the plea in connection with allegations that he mishandled sensitive information after his government service ended. The case centered on his failure to properly secure a classified document, a violation that carries significant legal implications given the nature of national defense materials.

Following the announcement, former President Donald Trump publicly criticized Bolton, who served as his National Security Advisor from April 2018 to September 2019. Trump, who has frequently expressed disdain for Bolton since their breakup and the publication of Bolton’s critical memoir, took to Truth Social to denounce the former aide. He described Bolton as “very dumb, unbalanced, and unskilled” in a post released late Friday.

The dispute between Trump and Bolton dates back to 2019, when tensions over foreign policy differences and Bolton’s revealing book caused a high-profile rift. Bolton’s memoir drew extensive public attention by portraying the Trump administration in an unfavorable light.

Legal experts note that Bolton’s guilty plea underscores the seriousness with which federal authorities treat the unauthorized possession of classified materials. It also highlights the ongoing scrutiny faced by former government officials regarding the handling of sensitive documents after leaving office.

The resolution of this case, with a guilty plea on a single count and the dismissal of multiple others, suggests an agreement aimed at concluding the legal proceedings without a prolonged trial. Bolton’s legal team has not publicly commented on the matter, and prosecutors have declined to provide further details beyond the terms outlined in court.

This development adds to a series of legal and political challenges involving former Trump administration officials and the handling of classified information, an issue that has remained contentious in recent years.