Bethesda, MD – The FBI raided the home and office of John Bolton, former National Security Advisor to President Donald Trump, on Friday, August 22, 2025, as part of a national security investigation into alleged mishandling of classified documents. The dramatic searches have sparked heated debate, with some calling it justice and others labeling it political revenge.

The operation kicked off at 7 a.m. ET, targeting Bolton’s Bethesda, Maryland, home and his Washington, D.C., office. Agents were seen hauling boxes and a computer, focusing on whether Bolton illegally held or leaked classified information, possibly tied to his 2020 tell-all book, The Room Where It Happened. The memoir, which slammed Trump’s foreign policy, had previously triggered a Justice Department lawsuit that was dropped in 2021.

FBI Director Kash Patel, a Trump loyalist, hinted at the raid on X, posting, “NO ONE is above the law… @FBI agents on mission.” Attorney General Pam Bondi and Deputy FBI Director Dan Bongino echoed similar sentiments online, fueling speculation about the probe’s motives. Sources say CIA Director John Ratcliffe provided key intelligence, reviving an earlier investigation into Bolton’s handling of sensitive materials.

Bolton, 76, wasn’t home during the raid but later spoke with agents at his D.C. office. His wife, Gretchen Smith Bolton, was present at their Bethesda residence. No charges have been filed, and Bolton’s attorney, Charles J. Cooper, has not commented publicly.

A veteran Republican hawk, Bolton served as Trump’s National Security Advisor from 2018 to 2019, clashing with the president over Iran, North Korea, and Russia policies. Their split—Bolton says he quit, Trump says he was fired—turned bitter, with Bolton’s book accusing Trump of incompetence and self-interest. Recently, Bolton criticized Trump’s Russia-Ukraine talks, mocking his pursuit of a Nobel Peace Prize.

President Trump, speaking Friday while announcing the 2026 FIFA World Cup draw at the Kennedy Center, claimed he learned of the raid from TV and called Bolton a “lowlife.” He drew parallels to the 2022 FBI raid on his Mar-a-Lago estate, which he called a “witch hunt.” Vice President JD Vance defended the raid, insisting it’s about classified documents, not politics.

Critics disagree. Conservative attorney George Conway, who visited the Bethesda site, suggested the raid could be harassment over Bolton’s anti-Trump stance. Congressional Democrats, including Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi, and former FBI officials like Andrew McCabe warned of the FBI’s politicization under Trump’s appointees. The raid follows similar probes targeting Trump critics listed in Patel’s 2023 book, Government Gangsters, including James Comey and John Brennan.

The investigation could lead to Espionage Act charges, carrying up to 10 years per count for mishandling classified information. With Bolton’s security clearance revoked by Trump in January 2025 amid Iranian threats, the raid has intensified concerns about targeting political foes.

ClickUSANews will keep you updated as this story develops.