Former national security advisor John Bolton’s already tense relationship with President Donald Trump has been further strained after federal authorities raided his Bethesda, Maryland, home and office in Washington, D.C.
Why the FBI Raided Bolton
The raids are linked to claims that Bolton used a secret email server while working in the White House to send classified data to his family, according to the New York Post. According to reports, search warrants that are currently under seal point to previous disputes about his 2020 memoir as proof of a pattern of conduct.
But according to a senior U.S. source who spoke to the Post, the present probe marks a clear divergence from past disagreements over his book.
The raid was reportedly ordered by FBI Director Kash Patel. Soon after, Patel posted on X: [FBI] agents on a mission: No one is above the law.The statement was reiterated by FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino, who added: “Public corruption will not be tolerated.”
Bolton s Status
Bolton has not been detained or arrested. Trump canceled his Secret Service protection and security clearance earlier this year, in January 2025.
Trump has long been criticized by the former adviser, particularly for how he handled secret materials. Bolton publicly denounced Trump’s actions during the FBI’s 2022 raid on his Mar-a-Lago residence.
Trump Responds to the Raid
President Trump said he just found out about the raid through media news when questioned about it. But he was unmistakably contemptuous of Bolton.
John Bolton doesn’t appeal to me. Trump told reporters, “He’s a real lowlife,” adding that he wasn’t intelligent and was even highly unpatriotic.
Trump continued to make fun of Bolton, claiming that he is often a very quiet person—unless he is able to say something negative about Trump on TV.
White House Reaction
Speaking on Meet the Press, Vice President JD Vance affirmed that the Bolton case is still in its early phases. He denied that Bolton’s prior criticism of Trump had anything to do with the probe or that it was politically motivated.
Although he would not elaborate, a source with knowledge of the facts told Fox News Digital that Bolton had some courage in denouncing Trump over confidential materials.
Past Controversies Over Classified Documents
Bolton has a history of arguing with government organizations about sensitive material. The Justice Department attempted to prevent the release of his 2020 biography, The Room Where It Happened, on the grounds that it included classified material, which led to a legal struggle.
During Trump’s first term, a classified papers investigation was also started, but it was eventually ended under President Biden.
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