The move has sparked debate over whether it is legitimate law enforcement or political retribution under Trump’s administration. (Image Credits: New York Post)
On Friday morning, FBI agents searched the Bethesda, Maryland home of John Bolton, the former U.S. National Security Adviser under Donald Trump and a longtime critic of the president. The FBI also confirmed “court-authorized activity” at Bolton’s Washington, D.C. office.
According to a source familiar with the matter, the raid was linked to a national security investigation involving potential mishandling or release of classified information. While Bolton has not commented directly, he reportedly told CNN he was “unaware” of the search and was still looking into the matter.
Legal experts stressed that such an operation could not have taken place without judicial oversight. “A federal magistrate judge would have to approve a search warrant, which means there is at least some objective and legitimate evidence of a potential crime,” explained Bradley Moss, a national security attorney.
Still, questions swirl over whether this raid was motivated purely by law, or by political retribution under Trump’s revived administration.
When asked about the raid, President Donald Trump distanced himself publicly, saying: “No, I don’t know about it. I saw it on television this morning. I’m not a fan of John Bolton. He’s a real sort of a low life. He could be a very unpatriotic guy. We’re going to find out.”
The FBI search reportedly began at 7 a.m., ordered by FBI Director Kash Patel, a Trump loyalist who has himself been criticized by Bolton in the past. Patel later posted on X, “NO ONE is above the law… @FBI agents on mission,” without naming Bolton.
Bolton, who also served as U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, has a fraught history with Trump. The Justice Department previously sued him during Trump’s first term, alleging that his 2020 book, “The Room Where It Happened: A White House Memoir”, contained classified information. That lawsuit, along with a related criminal investigation, was later dropped by the Biden administration in 2021.
The memoir offered a scathing critique of Trump’s presidency, portraying the White House as chaotic and unprincipled. Trump, in turn, stripped Bolton of his Secret Service protection after U.S. intelligence revealed that Iran had threatened his life.
The raid immediately sparked debate over whether Bolton is being targeted as part of Trump’s pledge to use the criminal justice system against political rivals. Since returning to office, the Trump administration has launched high-profile investigations into several Democratic leaders, including a U.S. senator, a state attorney general, and even a Federal Reserve governor.
Bolton himself has remained sharply critical of Trump. Just last week, following Trump’s meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska, Bolton told CNN that Putin “clearly won” the summit while Trump appeared “very tired” and achieved “no meaningful progress on Ukraine.”
Also Read: FBI Raids John Bolton’s Home: Classified Docs Probe Deepens Trump-Era Tensions
Observers note that the Bolton investigation sits at the crossroads of national security law and raw political power. While legal experts insist the presence of a judicially approved warrant suggests credible evidence, critics argue that the Trump administration is deploying the FBI to silence dissent.
Whether this raid leads to criminal charges, or fuels allegations of presidential overreach—remains uncertain. But one thing is clear: the clash between Trump and one of his fiercest Republican critics has reached a new and explosive stage.
