On August 22, 2025, FBI agents searched the Bethesda, Maryland, home of John Bolton, former U.S. National Security Adviser and vocal critic of President Donald Trump, as part of a national security investigation ordered by FBI Director Kash Patel, according to the New York Post. The raid, which began at 7 a.m., marks a significant escalation in the Trump administration’s actions against perceived adversaries.
An FBI spokesperson confirmed “court-authorised activity” in the area of Bolton’s home, per Reuters. Patel posted on X, “NO ONE is above the law… @FBI agents on mission,” without directly naming Bolton. The former adviser, unaware of the raid initially, told CNN he was looking into it. The probe’s specifics remain unclear, but it follows a 2020 Justice Department lawsuit and criminal investigation into Bolton’s memoir, The Room Where It Happened, for allegedly disclosing classified information, which was dropped in 2021.
NO ONE is above the law… @FBI agents on mission
— FBI Director Kash Patel (@FBIDirectorKash) August 22, 2025Bolton, who served as U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations under George W. Bush and National Security Adviser from 2018-2019, has criticised Trump’s fitness for office. His 2020 memoir detailed alleged misconduct, straining their relationship. Trump revoked Bolton’s Secret Service protection in January 2025, despite Iranian threats, and has targeted critics, including rescinding visas and security clearances, per The New York Times.
The raid aligns with Trump’s campaign promise of political retribution, with Patel, a loyalist, leading the FBI. Bolton previously opposed Patel’s nomination, calling for Senate rejection on NBC’s Meet The Press. His recent critique of Trump’s summit with Vladimir Putin, where he claimed Putin “won,” has intensified tensions, per CNN. Critics, including Sen. Mark Warner, argue the raid is politically motivated, risking national security.
The search, part of broader investigations into Trump’s adversaries, raises concerns about the politicisation of law enforcement. As the probe continues, public and legal scrutiny will focus on its legitimacy and potential impact on U.S. political discourse. Bolton’s response and any legal challenges could shape the narrative moving forward.
