Picture: Alex Wong/Getty Photos
FBI brokers raided the Bethesda, Maryland, dwelling and D.C. workplace of John Bolton, Donald Trump’s former nationwide safety adviser, early on Friday morning as a part of an investigation into whether or not he illegally dealt with labeled data. Bolton, who grew to become an outspoken Trump critic after leaving his first administration, has not been detained or charged with any crimes, in accordance with an AP supply.
Federal investigators haven’t given any official assertion on why Bolton’s dwelling and residence have been searched. “The FBI is conducting courtroom approved exercise within the space. There isn’t any risk to public security. We have now no additional remark,” a spokesperson for the bureau stated, per the Washington Put up.
Nevertheless, shortly earlier than the New York Put up broke information of the raid, FBI director Kash Patel posted on X:
Legal professional common Pam Bondi retweeted Patel’s put up, including, “America’s security isn’t negotiable. Justice will probably be pursued. All the time.” FBI deputy director Dan Bongino did the identical, writing, “Public corruption is not going to be tolerated.”
Bolton has but to touch upon the raids. He was noticed in D.C. on Friday morning, in accordance with the AP:
After the search at Bolton’s dwelling began, he was noticed Friday morning standing within the foyer of the Washington constructing the place he retains an workplace and speaking to 2 individuals with “FBI” seen on their vests. He left a couple of minutes later and appeared to have gone upstairs within the constructing. Brokers have been seen taking baggage into the workplace constructing via a again entrance.
FBI brokers work outdoors the house of John Bolton on August 22, 2025 in Bethesda, Maryland.
Picture: Andrew Harnik/Getty Photos
Whereas the searches have been being performed, Bolton posted a message about Trump’s dealing with of Russia’s conflict in Ukraine on X. That is typical of Bolton’s criticism of Trump’s international coverage and will have been a scheduled put up:
Bolton was George W. Bush’s ambassador to the United Nations through the Iraq Struggle and Donald Trump’s nationwide safety adviser from March 2018 till he was fired by way of Twitter in September 2019. 9 months after exiting the primary Trump administration Bolton printed a best-selling e book criticizing the president. The Trump White Home had unsuccessfully tried to dam the memoir’s publication. The president repeatedly bashed Bolton throughout this time, tweeting at one level that he “needs to be in jail”:
Shortly after the discharge of Bolton’s e book, the Trump Justice Division opened a legal investigation into whether or not Bolton unlawfully disclosed labeled data within the memoir. The investigation was closed with out prices in 2021, through the Biden administration.
On the day he returned to workplace, Trump revoked the safety clearance of fifty former intelligence and high-ranking authorities officers. The manager order singled out Bolton, saying his e book contained delicate data, and “undermined the power of future presidents to request and acquire candid recommendation on issues of nationwide safety from their workers.”
Upon returning to workplace, Trump pulled Bolton’s safety clearance. The president additionally revoked Bolton’s Secret Service safety. Bolton has confronted assassination threats from Iran attributable to his hawkish stance towards the nation. Trump additionally revoked Bolton’s safety element, although the previous adviser stated he was nonetheless receiving threats from Iran, and months earlier the DOJ filed prices over a thwarted Iranian plot to kill Trump.
Federal investigators have launched legal investigations into a number of Trump critics in current months, together with New York Legal professional Basic Letitia James, Senator Adam Schiff, former FBI director James Comey, and former CIA director John Brennan.
Throughout an look earlier this month on ABC’s This Week, Bolton was requested if he was apprehensive about being focused by Trump since he’s on his “enemies record.”
“Properly, I believe he’s already come after me and several other others in withdrawing the safety that we had for … the Iranians, for the assault on Qasem Suleimani,” Bolton stated. “I stated within the – within the new ahead to the paperback version of my e book, I believe it’s a retribution presidency.
Trump claimed on Friday morning that he was unaware of the raid, and reiterated that he considers Bolton a “low life”:
It is a growing story and will probably be up to date.
