FBI Executes Court-Authorized Search of John Bolton’s Home and Office

WASHINGTON, August 23, 2025 - FBI agents searched the Bethesda, Maryland home and Washington, D.C. office of former National Security Adviser John R. Bolton on Friday. This was part of a national security investigation into how he handled classified information.

Investigators came to Bolton’s suburban home just before 7 a.m. Unmarked FBI vehicles filled the driveway. Later, they loaded at least six boxes of documents into their cars. Bolton wasn’t at the morning operation. However, agents later saw him at his downtown office when they served a second search warrant. Both searches needed approval from federal magistrate judges in two areas. This shows the cross-district nature of the inquiry into whether Bolton unlawfully shared or kept sensitive materials.

FBI Director Kash Patel, who started the investigation, stressed the bureau’s commitment to the law in a social media post linked to the raid. He tweeted Friday morning, “NO ONE is above the law… @FBI agents on mission.” Attorney General Pam Bondi agreed, saying, “America’s safety isn’t negotiable." Justice will be pursued. Always.”

Bolton was national security adviser to President Trump from April 2018 to September 2019. He later became a vocal critic. So far, he has not been arrested or charged. His legal team said Bolton has “fully complied with all laws and regulations.” They will also “vigorously defend” against any baseless claims.

President Trump, asked about the raid, denied he had any role in it. He called Bolton a “lowlife” and said he found out about the operation from TV reports. Vice President J.D. Vance said the probe is needed if evidence shows wrongdoing. He added, “If there’s no crime here, we’re not going to prosecute it.”

Experts say the high-profile search could raise fears about the politicization of law enforcement. Bradley Moss, a national security attorney, said that a federal magistrate’s approval of these warrants means there’s “some legitimate evidence of a possible crime.” He emphasized that “public confidence relies on transparency and proper procedures.”

Neighbors called Friday’s scene unusual for the usually calm, tree-lined streets of Bethesda. Many journalists and onlookers gathered across from Bolton’s property all day. Passersby also honked in support of what some saw as a stand against “retribution” aimed at political dissenters.

The Justice Department’s inquiry started in 2020. It first looked at Bolton’s memoir, The Room Where It Happened, to see if any classified information was shared improperly. Investigators are ramping up efforts to see if Bolton broke federal laws about handling national security documents. Sources close to the probe say the seized materials will stay sealed. This will last until the court decides on possible charges.