Federal agents conducted searches at the home and office of former National Security Adviser John Bolton on Friday morning as part of an investigation into allegations that he mishandled classified information during his time in the Trump White House. The operation, ordered by FBI Director Kash Patel, revives a probe that began in 2020 but was sidelined under the Biden administration.
The raid kicked off at 7 a.m. at Bolton’s Bethesda, Maryland, residence, with agents later entering his Washington, D.C., office under a search warrant. Sources indicate the focus is on claims that Bolton sent “highly sensitive” classified documents to his wife and daughter via a private email server while serving as national security adviser. A senior U.S. official described the alleged actions bluntly: “While Bolton was a national security adviser, he was literally stealing classified information, utilizing his family as a cutout.”
Patel, a staunch Trump ally who assumed the FBI directorship in February 2025, announced the action cryptically on X: “NO ONE is above the law… @FBI agents on mission.”
The investigation reportedly stems from evidence provided by CIA Director John Ratcliffe, highlighting potential illegal possession or sharing of classified materials. Officials have stressed that this case is distinct from prior scrutiny over Bolton’s 2020 memoir, “The Room Where It Happened,” which Trump attempted to block for containing alleged national secrets.
“It has absolutely 100% nothing to do with the book,” the senior official stated.
President Trump, addressing reporters, denied prior knowledge of the raid. “I know nothing about it… I tell [Attorney General] Pam [Bondi] and I tell the group: ‘I don’t want to know, but you have to do what you have to do.’” He added his view of Bolton: “He’s not a smart guy, but he could be a very unpatriotic guy… We’re going to find out.”
Bolton, now 76, has not faced arrest or charges, but the move comes amid his ongoing criticism of Trump, including recent X posts questioning the administration’s handling of Russia’s war in Ukraine.
The raid has elicited strong reactions from Republican leaders, who see it as part of a broader effort to root out entrenched corruption in Washington. House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer praised Patel and other Trump appointees for their commitment to accountability.
“I don’t know what John Bolton did. Obviously, he deserves due process,” Comer said on America’s Newsroom. “But I do believe that Kash Patel and [Attorney General] Pam Bondi and [CIA Director] John Ratcliffe and [Director of National Intelligence] Tulsi Gabbard are serious about holding the deep state accountable for all the mistakes and all the abuses of power that we’ve witnessed from the deep state over the past decades.”
Comer called the day “positive,” adding, “We’ll see what Bolton had in his possession.”
Senate Homeland Security Chairman Rand Paul went further, condemning Bolton’s foreign policy legacy. “Bolton has done a lot of damage to the life, liberty and treasure of so many Americans,” Paul told Fox News. “If he also is found to have broken the law regarding national security, it will be some small form of justice for the evil he has perpetrated over the years.”
House Intelligence Committee Chairman Rick Crawford echoed the sentiment: “While all accused are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law, the news of this situation is incredibly troubling. Nobody is above the law.”
Critics on the left have decried the raid as political retribution, pointing to Bolton’s vocal opposition to Trump since his 2019 firing. Bolton, a longtime hawk who advocated for regime change in Iran and lost his security clearance in January 2025, has faced threats from Tehran following the 2020 drone strike on Gen. Qassem Soleimani. Yet for conservatives, this action underscores a necessary reckoning with figures who have undermined American interests from within. Patel’s tenure has already exposed past FBI missteps, including James Comey’s alleged leaks before the 2016 election, signaling a shift toward transparency and justice.
On X, reactions poured in swiftly, with supporters hailing the move as overdue accountability. One user noted JD Vance defending against claims of retribution: “Who has said it looks a lot like retribution, Kristen? A lot of people who try to throw Donald Trump in prison for completely fake charges that were later thrown out by multiple different courts.” Others speculated on broader implications, with posts warning of “a lot of big stuff coming” in the fight against deep state elements.
This development revives questions about selective enforcement during the Biden years, when similar probes were reportedly stalled—possibly due to Bolton’s anti-Trump stance. As the investigation unfolds, it reinforces the Trump administration’s pledge to drain the swamp, ensuring that even high-profile insiders face scrutiny for endangering national security. Bolton’s case may prove a pivotal moment in restoring trust in our institutions.
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Author: Local News
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