FBI searches ex-national security adviser John Bolton’s house in Maryland
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FBI searches home of Trump’s former national security adviser John Bolton
The FBI searched John Bolton’s Maryland home and his PAC office in Washington, D.C., as part of a classified documents investigation. Bolton did not respond to multiple attempts to reach him. Bolton served as national security adviser during President Trump’s first term, but resigned — or was asked to resign by Mr. Trump — after serving in the job for 17 months. The New York Post first reported Bolton’s home was being searched by the FBI.
By: CBS News
The FBI searched former national security adviser John Bolton’s house in Bethesda, Maryland, early Friday morning, the bureau confirmed to CBS News.
“The FBI is conducting court authorized activity in the area,” the FBI said in a statement. “There is no threat to public safety. We have no further comment.”
Sources familiar with the search told CBS News it is related in part to a classified documents investigation.
FBI agents were also seen exiting a downtown Washington, D.C. building where Bolton’s political action committee, John Bolton PAC, is located.
FBI agents walk outside the home of John Bolton, former Trump national security adviser, after conducting a court-authorized search on Aug. 22, 2025 in Bethesda, Maryland. PEDRO UGARTE/AFP via Getty Images
Bolton did not respond to multiple attempts to reach him. The New York Post first reported Bolton’s home was being searched by the FBI.
Bolton served as national security adviser during President Trump’s first term, but resigned — or was asked to resign by Mr. Trump — after serving in the job for 17 months.
During Mr. Trump’s first term, Bolton wrote a book about his tenure as national security adviser, “The Room Where It Happened,” which portrayed Mr. Trump in an unflattering light. The first Trump administration tried to stop the publication of the book and later sued him for the profits. The Justice Department opened a criminal inquiry into whether Bolton had published classified information, claiming he had failed to complete a prepublication review.
In November 2020, Mr. Trump claimed that Bolton “illegally released much Classified Information” in his book. He called Bolton “a lowlife who should be in jail, money seized, for disseminating, for profit, highly Classified information,” in another social media post.
The Biden administration later closed the investigation into Bolton and dropped the lawsuit against him.
FBI searches John Bolton’s house
The FBI searched former national security adviser John Bolton’s house in Bethesda, Maryland, early Friday morning. Sources familiar with the search told CBS News it is related in part to a classified documents investigation. FBI agents were also seen exiting a downtown Washington, D.C. building where Bolton’s political action committee, John Bolton PAC, is located. Bolton did not respond to multiple attempts to reach him. The New York Post first reported Bolton’s home was being searched by the FBI. The first Trump administration tried to stop the publication of the book “The Room Where It Happened,” which portrayed Mr. Trump in an unflattering light. The Justice Department opened a criminal inquiry into whether Bolton had published classified information, claiming he had failed to complete a prepublication review.
“The FBI is conducting court authorized activity in the area,” the FBI said in a statement. “There is no threat to public safety. We have no further comment.”
Sources familiar with the search told CBS News it is related in part to a classified documents investigation.
FBI agents were also seen exiting a downtown Washington, D.C. building where Bolton’s political action committee, John Bolton PAC, is located. The Associated Press reported that after the search at Bolton’s home had begun, he was seen in the lobby of the building, talking to two people wearing FBI vests. Agents were seen taking bags into the office building through a back entrance.
FBI agents walk outside the home of John Bolton, former Trump national security adviser, after conducting a court-authorized search on Aug. 22, 2025 in Bethesda, Maryland. / Credit: PEDRO UGARTE/AFP via Getty Images
Bolton did not respond to multiple attempts to reach him. The New York Post first reported Bolton’s home was being searched by the FBI.
File: Former U.S. security adviser John Bolton speaks at the Hotel Petit Palace Savoy Alfonso XII, on Sept. 23, 2024 in Madrid. / Credit: Jesus Hellin/Europa Press via Getty Images
Spokespeople for the Justice Department did not respond to immediate requests for comment. As the search was underway, top U.S. law enforcement officials posted on social media.
“NO ONE is above the law… @FBI agents on mission,” FBI Director Kash Patel posted on X, at 7:03 a.m. Attorney General Pam Bondi shared Patel’s post at 7:45 a.m., commenting, “America’s safety isn’t negotiable. Justice will be pursued. Always.”
Bolton served as national security adviser during President Trump’s first term, but resigned — or was asked to resign by Mr. Trump — after serving in the job for 17 months.
During Mr. Trump’s first term, Bolton wrote a book about his tenure as national security adviser, “The Room Where It Happened,” which portrayed Mr. Trump in an unflattering light. The first Trump administration tried to stop the publication of the book and later sued him for the profits. The Justice Department opened a criminal inquiry into whether Bolton had published classified information, claiming he had failed to complete a prepublication review.
In November 2020, Mr. Trump claimed that Bolton “illegally released much Classified Information” in his book. He called Bolton “a lowlife who should be in jail, money seized, for disseminating, for profit, highly Classified information,” in another social media post.
The Biden administration later closed the investigation into Bolton and dropped the lawsuit against him.
Within 24 hours of Mr. Trump’s inauguration for his second term, his administration removed Bolton’s U.S. Secret Service protection. Bolton had been granted the protection by the Biden administration in December 2021, after a series of threats from Iran that were linked to retaliation for a drone strike ordered by Mr. Trump during Bolton’s tenure. That strike resulted in the assassination of Iranian General Qasem Soleimani.
This is a developing story and will be updated.
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FBI searches home and office of ex-Trump national security adviser John Bolton
FBI searches John Bolton’s home and office, a person familiar with the matter says. Bolton was not detained and has not been charged with any crimes, the person says. The searches appear to be the most significant public step the Justice Department has taken against a perceived enemy of the president. Bolton served as Trump’s third national security adviser for 17 months and clashed with him over Iran, Afghanistan and North Korea. He faced scrutiny during the first Trump administration over a book he wrote about his time in government that officials argued disclosed classified information. grand jury investigation into origins of the Trump-Russia probe is also under investigation, according to the person who says the FBI is searching Bolton’s office and home. The person says the searches are part of an investigation into the handling of classified information, but the person did not specify what the investigation is about and did not give a motive for the searches. The Justice Department also is conducting mortgage fraud investigations into Democratic Sen. Adam Schiff of California and New York Attorney General Letitia James.
WASHINGTON (AP) — The FBI is searching the Maryland home and Washington office of John Bolton, who served in President Donald Trump’s first administration as national security adviser but later became critical of the president, as part of an investigation into the handling of classified information, a person familiar with the matter said Friday.
Bolton was not detained and has not been charged with any crimes, said the person, who was not authorized to discuss the investigation by name and spoke to The Associated Press on the condition of anonymity.
After the search at Bolton’s home started, he was spotted Friday morning standing in the lobby of the Washington building where he keeps an office and talking to two people with “FBI” visible on their vests. He left a few minutes later and appeared to have gone upstairs in the building. Agents were seen taking bags into the office building through a back entrance.
The searches appear to be the most significant public step the Justice Department has taken against a perceived enemy of the president, and they’re likely to elicit fresh criticism that the Trump administration is using its law enforcement powers to go after the Republican’s foes. The searches of Bolton’s home and office come as the Trump administration has taken steps to examine the activities of other critics, including by authorizing a grand jury investigation into the origins of the Trump-Russia probe.
Messages left with a spokesperson for Bolton were not immediately returned, and a lawyer who has represented Bolton had no immediate comment.
The White House did not comment and referred questions about the probe to the FBI. The Justice Department also had no comment, but leaders appeared to cryptically refer to the search of Bolton’s home in a series of social media posts Friday morning.
FBI Director Kash Patel, who in a 2023 book he wrote included Bolton in a list of “members of the Executive Branch Deep State,” posted on X: “NO ONE is above the law… @FBI agents on mission.” Attorney General Pam Bondi shared his post, adding: “America’s safety isn’t negotiable. Justice will be pursued. Always.”
The Justice Department is also conducting mortgage fraud investigations into Democratic Sen. Adam Schiff of California and New York Attorney General Letitia James, who brought a civil fraud lawsuit against Trump and his company, and ex-Trump prosecutor Jack Smith faces an investigation from an independent watchdog office. Schiff and James have vigorously denied any wrongdoing through their lawyers.
In an ABC interview earlier this month, Bolton was asked about whether he was worried about the Trump administration taking action against him. Bolton said Trump had “already come after” him by taking away his security detail, and he added: “I think it is a retribution presidency.”
Bolton served as Trump’s third national security adviser for 17 months and clashed with him over Iran, Afghanistan and North Korea. He faced scrutiny during the first Trump administration over a book he wrote about his time in government that officials argued disclosed classified information, but the Justice Department in 2021 abandoned its lawsuit and dropped a separate grand jury investigation.
Bolton’s lawyers have said he moved forward with the book after a White House National Security Council official, with whom Bolton had worked for months, said the manuscript no longer contained classified information.
On his first day back in office this year, Trump revoked the security clearances of more than four dozen former intelligence officials, including Bolton. Bolton was also among a group of former Trump officials whose security details were canceled by Trump earlier this year.
Bolton’s scathing book, “The Room Where It Happened,” portrayed Trump as grossly ill-informed about foreign policy and said he “saw conspiracies behind rocks, and remained stunningly uninformed on how to run the White House, let alone the huge federal government.”
Trump responded by slamming Bolton as a “crazy” war-monger who would have led the country into “World War Six.”
Bolton served as U.S. ambassador to the United Nations under President George W. Bush and also held positions in President Ronald Reagan’s administration. He had considered running for president in 2012 and 2016.
In 2022, an Iranian operative was charged in a plot to kill Bolton in presumed retaliation for a January 2020 U.S. airstrike that killed the country’s most powerful general. Bolton had by then left the Trump administration but tweeted, “Hope this is the first step to regime change in Tehran.”
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Associated Press writers Michelle L. Price, Jill Colvin, Nathan Ellgren and Alanna Durkin Richer contributed to this report.
The Latest: FBI searches home of ex-Trump national security adviser John Bolton, AP source says
The FBI is searching the Maryland home of John Bolton, a person familiar with the matter says. The person was not authorized to discuss the investigation by name and spoke on condition of anonymity. Bolton faced scrutiny during the first Trump administration over a book he wrote about his time in government. Bolton portrayed Trump as grossly ill-informed about foreign policy in his book “The Room Where It Happened.” Trump responded by slamming Bolton as a “crazy’ war-monger who would have led the country into “World War Six’ Trump is scheduled to make an “announcement” at noon ET in the Oval Office. It’s unclear what it will be about; this is the only event on Trump’S public schedule. The U.S. attorney in Washington has opened an investigation into the numbers, the latest pressure point in a tug of war between the administration and D.C. government. The president is considering “a complete and total Federal takeover of the City!”
The person was not authorized to discuss the investigation by name and spoke on condition of anonymity to The Associated Press.
Messages left with a spokesperson for Bolton and the White House were not immediately returned. A lawyer who has represented Bolton had no immediate comment Friday.
Here’s the latest:
Trump threatens to tighten grip on DC
In an overnight social media post, Trump said he was considering “a complete and total Federal takeover of the City!”
He’s already seized control of the local police department for 30 days, which could be extended with congressional approval.
Trump has claimed the city is in the midst of a crime crisis despite statistics showing a declining problem. The U.S. attorney in Washington has opened an investigation into the numbers, the latest pressure point in a tug of war between the administration and D.C. government.
“Mayor Muriel Bowser must immediately stop giving false and highly inaccurate crime figures, or bad things will happen,” the president wrote.
At Bolton’s home as the FBI search is underway
A few local police cars were stationed across the street from Bolton’s house outside Washington as FBI agents passed in and out. The tan-and-brick structure is set back from a two-lane road on a leafy suburban street.
Reporters and curious neighbors gathered across the street, including a man who gave only his first name as David. He said it appears Bolton is being targeted because of his disagreement with the Trump, a “frightening” prospect.
The crowd grew to include prominent Trump critic George Conway as passing cars slowed near the scene. One driver shouted “shame on you!”
An Iranian operative was charged with plotting to kill Bolton in 2022
The plot was in presumed retaliation for a January 2020 U.S. airstrike that killed the country’s most powerful general. Bolton had by then left the Trump administration but tweeted, “Hope this is the first step to regime change in Tehran.”
Bolton became a strong Trump critic after leaving his administration
In his book “The Room Where It Happened,” Bolton portrayed Trump as grossly ill-informed about foreign policy and said he “saw conspiracies behind rocks, and remained stunningly uninformed on how to run the White House, let alone the huge federal government.”
Trump responded by slamming Bolton as a “crazy” war-monger who would have led the country into “World War Six.”
Trump’s schedule for Friday
The president is scheduled to make an “announcement” at noon ET in the Oval Office. It’s unclear what it will be about.
This is the only event on Trump’s public schedule.
Trump officials previously scrutinized Bolton’s scathing book
Bolton faced scrutiny during the first Trump administration over a book he wrote about his time in government, “The Room Where it Happened,” that officials argued disclosed classified information.
The Justice Department in 2021 abandoned its lawsuit and dropped a separate grand jury investigation.
Bolton’s lawyers have said he moved forward with the book, which was published in 2020, after a White House National Security Council official, with whom Bolton had worked for months, had said the manuscript no longer contained classified information.
Bolton seen at Washington office talking to FBI agents
As the search was ongoing, Bolton could be seen standing inside in the lobby of the Washington building where he keeps an office and talking to two people with “FBI” visible on their vests.
He was spotted by an Associated Press reporter who arrived at the building. He left a few minutes later and appeared to have gone upstairs in the building.
Roger Stone: ‘How does it feel?’
Longtime political adviser Roger Stone, who was prosecuted during the Russia investigation and later pardoned by Trump, was gleeful on social media.
“How does it feel to have your home raided at 6 o’clock in the morning?” he posted.
Intelligence leaders posted online about the search of Bolton’s home
FBI Director Kash Patel, who in a 2023 book he wrote included Bolton in a list of “members of the Executive Branch Deep State,” posted on X: “NO ONE is above the law… @FBI agents on mission.” Attorney General Pam Bondi shared his post, adding: “America’s safety isn’t negotiable. Justice will be pursued. Always.”
Bolton has not been detained or charged with any crimes
That’s according to a person familiar with the matter who was not authorized to discuss the investigation by name and spoke on the condition of anonymity to The Associated Press.
— Eric Tucker
Bolton’s security clearance was revoked in January
On his first day back in office this year, Trump, a Republican, revoked the security clearances of more than four dozen former intelligence officials, including Bolton. Bolton was also among a trio of former Trump officials whose security details were canceled by Trump earlier this year.
What to know about John Bolton
During Trump’s first term, Bolton served as the president’s third national security adviser for 17 months and clashed with him over Iran, Afghanistan and North Korea. The first Trump administration had unsuccessfully sought to block the publication of a Bolton book that it said contained classified information.
The Associated Press
FBI Searches Home, Office of Former Trump National Security Adviser John Bolton
Bolton was not detained and has not been charged with any crimes, a source says. The FBI confirmed “court-authorized activity” in the area of Bolton’s home. Bolton served as Trump’s third national security adviser for 17 months and clashed with him over Iran, Afghanistan, and North Korea. He faced scrutiny during the first Trump administration over a book he wrote about his time in government that officials argued disclosed classified information. this year, Trump revoked the security clearances of more than four dozen former intelligence officials, including Bolton, on his first day back in office. The White House did not comment.
Federal Bureau of Investigation agents began searching his house in the Washington suburb of Bethesda, Maryland, at 7 a.m. as part of a probe ordered by FBI Director Kash Patel, according to the New York Post, which first reported the raid.
An FBI spokesperson confirmed “court-authorized activity” in the area of Bolton’s home.
Bolton was not detained and has not been charged with any crimes, said a source who was not authorized to discuss the investigation by name and spoke to The Associated Press on the condition of anonymity.
After the search at Bolton’s home started, he was spotted Friday morning standing in the lobby of the Washington building where he keeps an office and talking to two people with “FBI” visible on their vests. He left a few minutes later and appeared to have gone upstairs in the building. Agents were seen taking bags into the office building through a back entrance.
Messages left with a spokesperson for Bolton were not immediately returned, and a lawyer who has represented Bolton had no immediate comment.
The White House did not comment and referred questions about the probe to the FBI. The Justice Department also had no comment.
In an ABC interview earlier this month, Bolton was asked about whether he was worried about the Trump administration taking action against him. Bolton said Trump had “already come after” him by taking away his security detail, and he added: “I think it is a retribution presidency.”
Bolton served as Trump’s third national security adviser for 17 months and clashed with him over Iran, Afghanistan, and North Korea. He faced scrutiny during the first Trump administration over a book he wrote about his time in government that officials argued disclosed classified information, but the Justice Department in 2021 abandoned its lawsuit and dropped a separate grand jury investigation.
Bolton’s lawyers have said he moved forward with the book after a White House National Security Council official, with whom Bolton had worked for months, said the manuscript no longer contained classified information.
On his first day back in office this year, Trump revoked the security clearances of more than four dozen former intelligence officials, including Bolton. Bolton was also among a group of former Trump officials whose security details were canceled by Trump earlier this year.
Bolton served as U.S. ambassador to the United Nations under President George W. Bush and also held positions in President Ronald Reagan’s administration. He had considered running for president in 2012 and 2016.
In 2022, an Iranian operative was charged in a plot to kill Bolton in presumed retaliation for a January 2020 U.S. airstrike that killed the country’s most powerful general. Bolton had by then left the Trump administration but tweeted, “Hope this is the first step to regime change in Tehran.”
By Eric Tucker.