FBI Raids John Bolton's Home, Office, As Part Of Classified Documents Probe

The FBI conducted a search of the home and office of former National Security Advisor John Bolton on Friday, as part of a national security investigation focused on classified records. The raid, which began around 7 a.m. ET, involved FBI agents at Bolton's residence in Bethesda, Maryland, and his Washington, D.C. office. He was not at home during the operation.

The search was carried out under a court-authorized warrant, with FBI Director Kash Patel confirming the activity via a social media post stating "NO ONE is above the law… @FBI agents on mission." The investigation is reportedly linked to allegations that Bolton may have improperly possessed or shared classified documents, potentially including those from his time in the Trump administration.

The probe is reportedly focused on whether Bolton sent classified documents from a private email server while serving as national security adviser. While a previous investigation into his memoir was shut down by the former President Biden administration, the current probe is described as a "clean break" from that matter. The investigation is also said to be examining potential instances of documents being leaked to journalists.

Bolton, a notorious neocon and 'warmonger,' has been a vocal critic of President Donald Trump's policy of seeking peace instead of military interventions. He published his memoir, "The Room Where It Happened," which detailed his clashes with Trump and alleged misconduct. In January 2025, Trump revoked Bolton's security clearance and canceled his Secret Service detail.

Trump responding to reporters Friday, said he was not aware of the raid beforehand and called Bolton a "lowlife" and "not a smart guy." Vice President JD Vance denied the investigation was targeted at Bolton for his criticism of Trump.

Bolton served as Trump's national security adviser from April 2018 to September 2019 before being ousted He has since become a leading critic of Trump, particularly regarding his foreign policy, including his handling of the Russia-Ukraine war and his meeting with Vladimir Putin. He supported the politically-charged 2022 raid on Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate by Biden's FBI.