FBI Raids John Bolton’s Home in Classified Records Probe: “Unjust Retribution”
Andrew Juma, DigitalWorldwideNews.com, Bethesda, Maryland
August 22,2025
FBI searches John Bolton’s home, probing classified records, sparking retribution claims.
Andrew Juma, DigitalWorldwideNews.com, Bethesda, Maryland
August 22,2025
FBI searches John Bolton’s home, probing classified records, sparking retribution claims.
On August 22, 2025, FBI agents searched the Maryland home and Washington, D.C., office of John Bolton, former national security adviser to President Donald Trump, in a probe into mishandling classified records, prompting Bolton’s lawyer to call it “unjust retribution.” The raid follows Bolton’s criticism of Trump’s Russia policy and loss of security clearance.
FBI agents raided Bolton’s Bethesda home and D.C. office at 7 a.m., authorized by federal judges, to investigate whether he illegally possessed or shared classified records. The probe, ordered by FBI Director Kash Patel, revisits allegations tied to Bolton’s 2020 memoir, which criticized Trump’s foreign policy. The search follows Trump’s January revocation of Bolton’s clearance and security detail, amid Bolton’s recent critiques of Trump’s Putin summit.
Bolton, spotted speaking with FBI agents in his office lobby, called the raid “politically motivated” through his lawyer, Charles Cooper, who labeled it “unjust retribution” for Bolton’s Trump criticism. Cooper noted Bolton completed a four-month White House review for his memoir, cleared of classified content. Bolton, not detained or charged, vowed to cooperate but urged an independent review, citing concerns over FBI impartiality under Patel’s leadership.
FBI Director Kash Patel, appointed by Trump, defended the raid, saying, “No one escapes accountability.” Attorney General Pam Bondi echoed, “Justice is non-negotiable.” Trump, speaking at a D.C. museum, called Bolton a “lowlife” but claimed no prior knowledge. House Oversight Chair James Comer supported Patel, arguing for “fair accountability.” Public sentiment splits, with some seeing political revenge and others backing the probe.
UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy urged U.S. restraint, citing “press freedom concerns.” Russia’s Dmitry Medvedev mocked Bolton’s plight, noting “ironic justice.” Qatar’s Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdul Rahman al-Thani called for transparent investigations to avoid diplomatic fallout. The UN’s human rights office warned of eroding trust in U.S. institutions. Public views reflect unease, with some questioning the timing after Bolton’s Putin critiques.
The 2022 Mar-a-Lago raid on Trump’s home for classified documents, criticized by Patel as politicized, mirrors accusations against Bolton’s search. The 2020 Justice Department lawsuit against Bolton’s memoir, dropped in 2021 under Biden, sets a precedent for revisiting old probes. U.S. cultural trust in law enforcement, rooted in post-Watergate reforms, clashes with perceptions of Trump’s “retribution presidency,” fueling debate over FBI motives.
The probe’s timing, days after Bolton criticized Trump’s Alaska summit with Putin, raises retaliation concerns. Patel’s 2023 book listing Bolton as a “deep state” figure suggests bias, undermining FBI impartiality. Lack of public evidence on Bolton’s alleged Hamas ties or document mishandling fuels skepticism. Trump’s recent revocation of clearances for 48 officials, including Bolton, complicates claims of neutral law enforcement.
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