Chicago – August 23, 2025
On Friday morning, FBI agents executed a raid at the Maryland residence of John Bolton, former National Security Advisor to President Donald Trump and an outspoken critic of the former president, NBC News confirmed. Agents also searched Bolton’s office in Washington, D.C., as part of the ongoing investigation.
The raids are linked to a “national security investigation” focused on the search for classified records, a source with knowledge of the matter told NBC News. The inquiry is investigating multiple instances of classified information allegedly being leaked to the media. Although the investigation began during the Biden administration, it did not advance before President Joe Biden’s term ended in January.
Bolton, who served as Trump’s National Security Advisor from April 2018 to September 2019, has been a vocal critic of Trump, particularly regarding the president’s handling of foreign policy.
An FBI official confirmed the search, stating, “The FBI is conducting court-authorized activity in the area. There is no threat to public safety.” This suggests that a judge approved the search warrant for Bolton’s home in Bethesda, located just outside of Washington, D.C.
At the time of the raid, it was unclear whether Bolton was present at his residence, though a woman believed to be his wife was seen at the location. The raid, which started around 7 a.m. ET, occurred as Bolton took to Twitter to comment on the war in Ukraine, criticizing Trump’s continued push for negotiations with Russia, suggesting the talks were unlikely to yield meaningful results.
In response to the raid, Trump told reporters he had not been briefed on the situation but anticipated receiving details later in the day. The former president also reiterated his disdain for Bolton, calling him a “lowlife” and expressing his frustration over Bolton’s recent public criticisms, including a recent condemnation of Trump’s planned meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
