FBI Searches Home and Office of Former Trump Adviser John Bolton

Defence affairs - Def-Geopolitics

The FBI has conducted a court-authorized search of the home and office of John Bolton, former National Security Adviser to President Donald Trump, as part of a reopened investigation into the alleged disclosure of classified information in Bolton’s 2020 memoir, The Room Where It Happened. The operation, carried out Friday morning, marks a dramatic escalation in a years-old case that had previously been closed under the Biden administration.

Federal agents were seen entering Bolton’s residence in Bethesda, Maryland, and his Washington, D.C. office, according to multiple eyewitness accounts. At least six agents were observed at the home, some carrying bags into the property. Several unmarked federal vehicles were also spotted outside Bolton’s downtown office.

The renewed probe centers on whether Bolton unlawfully retained or disclosed classified material in his book, which offered a scathing critique of Trump’s foreign policy acumen. The Justice Department had previously investigated the matter during Trump’s first term, but the case was dropped in 2021.

Sources familiar with the investigation suggest that the search may also be linked to broader concerns over unauthorized leaks and the potential “weaponization” of sensitive information. The FBI has declined to comment publicly on the operation, citing ongoing legal proceedings.

Bolton, reached by CNN, said he was unaware of the FBI activity and was seeking further information. His legal team has not issued a formal response.

The search has reignited political controversy, with critics accusing the Trump administration of using federal law enforcement to target political adversaries. Bolton, once a key figure in Trump’s national security team, has since become one of the president’s most vocal critics.

Asked about the search, President Trump told reporters, “I don’t want to know about it. It’s not necessary. I could know about it. I could be the one starting it, and I’m actually the chief law enforcement officer. But I feel that it’s better this way.” He also referred to Bolton as a “low life,” adding, “He wants to always kill people, and he’s very bad at what he does, but he worked out great for me.”

The Justice Department has not confirmed whether additional charges are being considered. Legal analysts note that the case could test the boundaries of executive privilege, classification protocols, and the politicization of law enforcement.