Washington, Aug 23 (HS): In a dramatic move, the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) carried out coordinated raids on the Maryland residence and Washington, D.C. office of former National Security Advisor John Bolton. Federal agents spent hours combing through the premises, seizing stacks of files and sensitive documents before leaving in the early hours of Friday.
According to ABC News, the raid was conducted amid suspicions that Bolton may have retained classified records. FBI Director Kash Patel wrote on social media, “No one is above the law. Our agents are on mission.” Supporting the move, U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi added, “There can be no compromise on America’s security. Justice will prevail—always.”
The operation, involving six vehicles, began around 7 a.m., with Montgomery County police sealing off all access points near Bolton’s home. After nearly an hour inside, agents left with what eyewitnesses described as a “pile of documents.” Sources revealed that separate federal magistrates in Maryland and D.C. had signed off on the search warrants.
Speculation is rife that the raid underscores the long-running hostility between Bolton and former President Donald Trump. Most recently, Bolton sharply criticized Trump’s private meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska, further fueling political tensions.
When asked, Trump told reporters at the People’s House Museum that he had no prior knowledge of the raids, saying he learned about them “from television.” Justice Department officials have so far declined to comment.
Bolton, who served as Trump’s National Security Advisor for 17 months before resigning, has remained a vocal critic. His 2020 memoir “The Room Where It Happened” triggered a legal battle with the Trump administration, which accused him of unlawfully disclosing classified material. Although a federal judge rejected the Justice Department’s attempt to halt the book’s publication, he noted that Bolton had endangered national security by violating confidentiality agreements.
Trump himself repeatedly attacked Bolton, calling him a “fallen man” and claiming he should be jailed for releasing “highly classified” information. While the Biden administration later dropped the case, Bolton has remained a polarizing figure in Washington—criticized by Trump loyalists but also targeted by foreign threats. Notably, his Secret Service protection, revoked under Trump, was reinstated in December 2021 after reported threats from Iran.
As of Friday afternoon, Bolton returned to his home but has yet to issue any statement on the FBI’s action.
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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar
