WASHINGTON, Aug 22: The FBI searched the Maryland home of John Bolton, former National Security Adviser under President Donald Trump, as part of an investigation into the handling of classified information, according to a source familiar with the matter. Bolton has not been detained or charged, and neither he, his representatives, nor the Justice Department provided immediate comment.
The Justice Department and FBI officials hinted at the search through cryptic social media posts. FBI Director Kash Patel, who has previously criticized Bolton, posted, “NO ONE is above the law,” while Attorney General Pam Bondi echoed his sentiments, stressing the importance of national security and justice.
This search follows broader investigations targeting perceived adversaries of the Trump administration, including mortgage fraud probes into Democratic Senator Adam Schiff and New York Attorney General Letitia James. Both have denied wrongdoing. Special Counsel Jack Smith, who prosecuted Trump in classified documents and January 6-related cases, is also under investigation by an independent watchdog.
Bolton served 17 months under Trump, clashing with him over foreign policy and later publishing a critical memoir, The Room Where It Happened, which portrayed Trump as dangerously uninformed. The book led to scrutiny over alleged classified disclosures, but the DOJ dropped related legal action in 2021.
Bolton recently stated he believes Trump’s actions against him, including revoking his security detail, are part of a “retribution presidency.” His security clearance was also revoked when Trump returned to office in 2025.
A former U.N. ambassador and Reagan-Bush era official, Bolton was also the target of a foiled 2022 Iranian assassination plot in retaliation for a U.S. airstrike. (AP)
