The FBI has searched the Maryland home and Washington, D.C., office of John Bolton, the former national security adviser under Donald Trump, as part of a criminal investigation into possible mishandling of classified documents, according to a person familiar with the matter.
Bolton — who became a fierce Trump critic after being ousted in 2019 and publicly clashed with him over a tell‑all memoir — has not been charged and was not taken into custody. The source spoke to the Associated Press on condition of anonymity.
A Bold Step by the Justice Department
The searches mark one of the most high‑profile moves against a perceived Trump adversary in recent years. They come as the Trump administration has faced accusations of targeting political critics, including launching a grand jury probe into the origins of the Russia investigation.
Speaking to reporters at the White House Historical Association, Trump said he had seen news coverage of the raids and would be briefed but insisted he preferred to “stay out of it.”
“I could know about it. I could be the one starting it… But I feel that it’s better this way,” Trump said.
Bolton’s History With Trump
Bolton, known for clashing with Trump over Iran, Afghanistan, and North Korea policy, has previously warned that those who oppose Trump risk “retribution.” In 2020, his memoir The Room Where It Happened drew a Justice Department lawsuit over claims it revealed classified material — a case later dropped under the Biden administration.
During Friday’s operation, Bolton was spotted in the lobby of his D.C. office building speaking to FBI agents before heading upstairs. Agents were later seen carrying bags inside via a back entrance.
Political Undercurrents
While the Justice Department declined to comment, senior figures appeared to allude to the searches online. FBI Director Kash Patel, who once listed Bolton among “Deep State” officials, posted on X:
“NO ONE is above the law… @FBI agents on mission.”
Attorney General Pam Bondi reposted, adding: “America’s safety isn’t negotiable. Justice will be pursued. Always.”
Vice President JD Vance told NBC News Bolton was not being targeted for political reasons:
“If there’s no crime here, we’re not going to prosecute it… If there is, Ambassador Bolton will get his day in court.”
Other Investigations and Broader Context
The raids come amid unrelated DOJ investigations into Democratic figures like Sen. Adam Schiff and New York Attorney General Letitia James — both of whom deny wrongdoing — and against the backdrop of the 2022 Mar‑a‑Lago classified documents case involving Trump.
Trump, still fuming over the Mar‑a‑Lago search, noted the parallel: “I guess his house was raided today, but my house was raided, also.”
Bolton has held senior roles in the Reagan and George W. Bush administrations and once considered a presidential run. His security clearance was revoked when Trump returned to office earlier this year.
In 2022, U.S. prosecutors charged an Iranian operative with plotting to kill Bolton, allegedly in retaliation for a U.S. strike that killed a top Iranian general.
The handling of classified material remains a politically charged issue in Washington, with separate investigations in recent years involving Trump, Joe Biden, and Mike Pence — none of which led to charges for Biden or Pence.
