FBI Raids John Bolton’s Home in Classified Docs Probe
FBI raid also targeted Bolton’s D.C. office, resulted in the seizure of two cell phones, documents labeled 'Trump I-IV'
The FBI conducted a court-authorized search of former National Security Adviser John Bolton’s Maryland home and Washington office on August 25, 2025, as part of a criminal investigation into the potential unauthorized retention of classified information, with possible violations of the Espionage Act. The raid, which also targeted Bolton’s D.C. office, resulted in the seizure of two cell phones, documents labeled “Trump I-IV,” and a binder titled “Statements and Reflections to Allied Strikes,” according to court documents unsealed on September 4 following requests from news organizations citing public interest.
Bolton, a vocal critic of former President Donald Trump after serving as his national security adviser from 2017 to 2019, is under scrutiny for allegedly mishandling national defense information, a crime under the Espionage Act. The investigation, which does not guarantee charges, was reignited after U.S. intelligence intercepted emails Bolton allegedly sent on an unclassified system while preparing his 2020 memoir, The Room Where It Happened.
Bolton’s lawyer, Abbe Lowell, defended the seized materials as “ordinary records of a 40-year career serving this country,” asserting that a thorough review would find no wrongdoing. The Justice Department has withheld evidence details to protect the ongoing probe and national security.
The search occurs amid heightened tensions, with critics suggesting it aligns with Trump’s 2024 campaign promises to target adversaries, though FBI Director Kash Patel and Attorney General Pam Bondi have emphasized that “no one is above the law.” Bolton, who previously served as U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations and faced a now-dismissed Espionage Act case against Trump, has not been charged or detained.
The investigation’s outcome remains uncertain, but it underscores ongoing scrutiny of classified information handling by former officials.
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