The FBI has raided the home of Donald Trump’s former national security adviser and vocal critic, John Bolton, as part of an investigation into the handling of classified documents.
Federal agents carried out the search at Bolton’s residence in the Washington DC area at around 7am on Friday, according to the Associated Press, which cited a person familiar with the matter. A government source confirmed the raid to the Guardian but declined to provide further details.
Bolton, who was not at home at the time, told CNN he had been unaware of the raid until reporters contacted him. The broadcaster reported that he was later seen in the lobby of a Washington office building, speaking to two FBI agents in uniform. He has not been detained or charged.
FBI director and cryptic post
The FBI director, Kash Patel, appeared to reference the operation in a cryptic post on X, writing: “NO ONE is above the law… @FBI agents on mission.” The message was reposted by US vice-president JD Vance and FBI deputy director Dan Bongino, who added: “Public corruption will not be tolerated.”
The precise allegations underpinning the search remain unclear. A court-authorised warrant would have been required for the raid, but no details have yet been released.
Bolton served as Trump’s third national security adviser between 2018 and 2019, during which time he clashed with the then-president over policy on Iran, Afghanistan and North Korea. Their relationship deteriorated further following the publication of Bolton’s memoir The Room Where It Happened, which described Trump as unfit for office and accused him of seeking election help from China.
The Trump administration had unsuccessfully tried to block the book, claiming it contained classified information. After a judge allowed publication in 2020, Trump said Bolton “must pay a very big price for this, as others have before him”.
Earlier this year, Trump revoked security clearances for more than 40 former intelligence officials, including Bolton.
In recent weeks, Bolton has been a vocal critic of Trump’s approach to the Russia-Ukraine war, accusing the former president of being swayed by Vladimir Putin.
The raid has drawn political reaction in Washington. Meghan Hays, a former White House adviser to Joe Biden, described it as “extremely political” and “pure revenge” by Trump. Meanwhile, Roger Stone, a longtime Trump ally, mocked Bolton on social media, writing: “Good morning. John Bolton. How does it feel to have your home raided at 6 o’clock in the morning?”
The FBI and the Department of Justice have not commented publicly on the search.
