FBI Searches John Bolton's Properties Over Alleged Classified Document Mishandling

Washington D.C. – Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) agents on Friday, August 22, 2025, conducted searches at the Maryland home and Washington D.C. office of John Bolton, who previously served as National Security Adviser to President Donald Trump. These actions are part of a high-profile, reopened criminal investigation into allegations that Bolton mishandled classified documents. The specific focus of the probe involves claims that Bolton transmitted "highly sensitive" classified information to family members using a private email server during his tenure at the White House.

The investigation, which was initially launched in 2020 but subsequently frozen during the Biden administration, was reportedly reactivated by FBI Director Kash Patel upon his appointment in February. Patel publicly affirmed the agency's commitment to accountability, stating on social media, "NO ONE is above the law… @FBI agents on mission." Attorney General Pam Bondi echoed this sentiment, emphasizing that "America’s safety isn’t negotiable. Justice will be pursued. Always."

President Trump, responding to inquiries about the raids, stated he had no advance knowledge of the operation, noting, "I just saw it this morning." He also voiced strong disapproval of Bolton, describing him as "a real sort of a low life" and suggesting he "could be a very unpatriotic guy." Trump drew a parallel to the 2022 FBI search of his Mar-a-Lago estate, remarking, "My house was raided also, so I know the feeling."

The current probe unfolds against the backdrop of a contentious relationship between Trump and Bolton, a former ally who became a prominent critic after his 2019 dismissal. Bolton's 2020 memoir, "The Room Where It Happened," had previously been the subject of a classified information investigation that was later closed. Officials have indicated that the present inquiry is distinct from the previous book-related probe.

The timing and high-profile nature of the searches have ignited renewed discussions about the potential weaponization of federal law enforcement against political adversaries. Commentator Sean Davis captured this sentiment in a tweet, asserting, > "John Bolton is in deep trouble, and everyone who white-knighted for Bolton after defending the insane Mar-a-Lago raid is going to look especially craven and corrupt as more details emerge."

This development also follows President Trump's decision to revoke Bolton's security clearance and Secret Service detail earlier in his second term, despite intelligence reports indicating threats against Bolton from Iran. While Vice President JD Vance confirmed the investigation is in its "very early stages," he maintained that the probe is not politically motivated, stressing the administration's commitment to legal impartiality.