Washington, Aug 20: In a dramatic development, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) agents on Friday raided the residence of former US National Security Advisor (NSA) John Bolton in Bethesda, Maryland. The high-profile search comes as part of an ongoing security investigation reportedly linked to classified documents, coinciding with Bolton’s sharp criticism of US policies on Russia and India.
According to reports in the New York Post, FBI Director Kash Patel ordered the operation, with agents arriving at Bolton’s home around 7 a.m. local time. Patel later posted a cryptic message on X (formerly Twitter), stating: “NO ONE is above the law…FBI agents on mission.”
The investigation, sources claim, had begun years ago but was allegedly closed by the Biden administration for “political reasons.” The raid has reignited debates over the handling of sensitive government information by former officials.
During the search, Bolton issued a statement on X, criticising Trump’s stance on the Russia-Ukraine conflict. “Russia has not changed its goal: drag Ukraine into a new Russian Empire. Moscow has demanded Ukraine cede territory, which Zelensky will never do. Meanwhile, Trump continues talks only to seek a Nobel Peace Prize, but I see no progress,” Bolton wrote.
Bolton, who served as Trump’s NSA from 2018 to 2019, has long been a vocal critic of the former president. His 2020 memoir, The Room Where It Happened, stirred controversy for allegedly containing classified information. Trump had unsuccessfully tried to block its publication, accusing Bolton of breaching a non-disclosure agreement.
In January, after beginning his second term, Trump revoked the security clearance of 50 former intelligence officials, including Bolton, further deepening tensions between the two. The FBI has not yet released an official statement on the outcome of the raid.
