Former National Security Advisor John Bolton, one of Donald Trump’s most outspoken critics, reportedly had his Maryland home searched by the FBI early Friday morning. Multiple outlets including The New York Post and CNN covered the development, noting that agents were seen entering the property around 7 a.m.
According to early reports, the search is linked to an investigation concerning classified documents. While several agents were observed carrying bags into the residence, no items were seen being removed. Sources told the Associated Press that Bolton has not been detained or charged.
For context, Bolton has long been a thorn in Trump’s side. In 2020, he published The Room Where It Happened, a memoir filled with sharp criticism of Trump’s leadership and foreign policy decisions. The book alleged, among other things, that Trump asked Chinese President Xi Jinping for election help and once said invading Venezuela would be “cool.” Trump tried unsuccessfully to block its release, even threatening Bolton with prison at the time.
Although the Justice Department under Biden closed an earlier criminal inquiry into whether Bolton unlawfully disclosed classified material in the book, Friday’s raid suggests new questions may have surfaced.
The relationship between Trump and Bolton has been hostile since Bolton’s firing in 2019. Trump has repeatedly mocked him on Truth Social, while Bolton has returned the criticism. He’s gone as far as calling Trump a “useful idiot” when discussing the former president’s stance toward Vladimir Putin.
At this stage, it’s unclear what evidence the FBI was seeking or how the investigation will unfold. Bolton himself said he was not aware of the FBI’s activity until the reports broke and was “looking into the matter further.”
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