John Bolton under scrutiny again as FBI discovers 'classified' material in office raid

Agents seize computers, records tied to weapons, UN mission, Espionage Act probe

FBI agents executing a search warrant at former U.S. national security adviser John Bolton’s Washington, D.C., office last month discovered documents labeled as classified, according to a court filing released Tuesday and reported by Politico.

The August 22 raid turned up materials referencing weapons of mass destruction, the U.S. mission to the United Nations, and strategic communications records, filings revealed. Several folders were marked 'confidential,' while some pages carried 'secret' markings. At least one section labeled 'confidential' was redacted in the public inventory.

Second search at Bolton’s home

That same morning, FBI agents searched Bolton’s Bethesda, Maryland, home. Unlike the Washington office raid, the inventory there showed no clear indication of classified material. Still, agents seized computers and electronic devices from both locations, though details of their contents remain sealed.

The search warrants said investigators were looking for evidence tied to three potential felony offenses:

Gathering, transmitting or losing national defense information under the Espionage Act

Retaining classified documents without authorization

Possible mishandling of government records

Bolton’s history with classified material

This isn’t the first time Bolton has faced questions over handling sensitive information. During Donald Trump’s first term, the Justice Department sued him over allegations he included classified details in his memoir. A federal judge warned Bolton’s conduct might have been criminal, though the probe was dropped by the Biden administration in 2021 without charges.

The court documents don’t specify when the latest investigation began. However, filings reveal investigators concluded that Bolton’s AOL email account had been hacked by a foreign entity, though specifics about the hack remain unclear.

DOJ releases redacted records after media push

The Justice Department disclosed redacted versions of the inventories, warrants and affidavits after Politico and other news organizations petitioned for access. DOJ lawyers resisted a full release, citing the need to protect an active national security investigation.

For now, the filings offer the clearest glimpse yet into a revived probe surrounding Bolton’s handling of sensitive information, and whether his documents and devices may contain material that falls under the Espionage Act.