FBI raids home of Trump's former national security advisor John Bolton
Iran Press TV
Friday, 22 August 2025 3:41 PM
The FBI has raided the home of Donald Trump's former National Security Advisor, John Bolton, reportedly in connection with allegations that he possessed classified documents.
Bolton, who served as national security adviser for 17 months during Trump's first term before resigning, later faced scrutiny over a book he wrote about his time in government. He has since become a vocal critic of his former boss, condemning Trump's foreign policy as damaging to US diplomatic relations.
The FBI executed the search at Bolton's home in Bethesda, Maryland, in the Washington, D.C. area on Friday.
The operation is part of a probe into the handling of classified records, according to a person familiar with the matter who spoke to the Associated Press on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the investigation.
Bolton, who was not at home during the raid, was not detained and has not been charged with any crimes, the person said.
Associated Press reported that as the search was ongoing, Bolton could be seen standing inside the lobby of the Washington building where he keeps an office. He was talking to two people with "FBI" visible on their vests.
A spokesperson for the FBI told the New York Times agents were "conducting court-authorized activity in the area".
On Friday morning, FBI Director Kash Patel posted a cryptic message on X, writing: "NO ONE is above the law." His deputy, Dan Bongino, reposted the remark and added: "Public corruption will not be tolerated."
No official news has been released of any allegations underlying the federal court warrant that would have been needed to launch this raid.
The first Trump administration had unsuccessfully sought to block the publication of a Bolton book that it said contained classified information.
The book titled The Room Where It Happened was released on June 23, 2020. In it, Bolton described Trump as an ignorant person, unfamiliar with the basics of US foreign policy dynamics.
As soon as Trump resumed power in January this year, he revoked the security clearances of more than four dozen former intelligence officials, including Bolton, on his first day back in office.
The former national security adviser to the US president is a prominent member of the Republican Party, despite being a sharp critic of Trump, also a Republican. He has strong conservative political views and has been described as an ideologue by some right-wing factions. He is a former senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute (AEI) and a Fox News Channel commentator.
The raids come a day after Bolton criticized Trump over his failed summit with his Russian counterpart, calling him an "aberrational president" whose decisions are driven by his desire to win the Nobel Peace Prize.
Several prominent Trump loyalists from his Make America Great Again (MAGA) movement celebrated on social media after the FBI raided Bolton's home.
Roger Stone, a longstanding Trump ally, said on X: "Good morning. John Bolton. How does it feel to have your home raided at 6 o'clock in the morning?"
Rep. John McGuire said: "I'm glad they're going after him."
|
NEWSLETTER
|
| Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list |
|
|
|
