FBI searches former Trump adviser John Bolton's home and office

Federal agents were seen Friday morning outside of his residence and office.

John Bolton, former national security adviser to President Trump, waves as he arrives home, as the FBI searches his house August 22, 2025 in Bethesda, Maryland.

Federal agents were seen Friday morning searching the Maryland residence and Washington, D.C., office of former Trump national security adviser John Bolton, ABC News has learned.

Sources familiar with the matter told ABC News that the search, carried out by the FBI, was related to allegations that Bolton is in possession of classified records.

"NO ONE is above the law… @FBI agents on mission," FBI director Kash Patel said on social media.

It was not immediately clear what sensitive records federal investigators believe Bolton may have possessed.

The federal agents, along with approximately six FBI vehicles, were seen at Bolton's home for over an hour early this morning around 7 a.m. Local Montgomery County police were observed by ABC News blocking both entrances to Bolton's street but have since left.

Agents were seen coming in and out of the house, and FBI personnel were seen taking boxes out of the house and into vehicles.

FBI agents carry boxes to former national security adviser John Bolton's house, August. 22, 2025, in Bethesda, Md. Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images

The extraordinary move came as President Donald Trump has recently ramped up pressure on the Justice Department to bring charges against his political opponents.

Bolton has long been a target of Trump's ire. Most recently Trump has taken aim at Bolton's criticisms of Trump's engagements with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Trump told reporters Friday morning that he didn't know about the FBI search of Bolton's house.

When asked whether he expected the Justice Department to brief him on the search, Trump said that they "probably" would give him updates "today sometime" but added that he didn't want to know about the details.

"You have to do what you have to do. I don't want to know about it," Trump said in reference to Attorney General Pam Bondi and other officials involved in the investigation.

"America’s safety isn’t negotiable," Bondi said in a response to Patel's earlier post on social media. "Justice will be pursued. Always."

An FBI agent walks to the front entrance of ex-Trump national security adviser John Bolton's Washington office, Aug 22, 2025. Julia Demaree Nikhinson/AP

A federal magistrate judge in Maryland signed off on the search at Bolton's home, sources said.

Another federal magistrate judge in Washington had authorized the search of his downtown D.C. office, according to sources.

To obtain a search warrant, investigators need to have probable cause of a violation of federal law.

That means authorities would need to convince a judge that there is sufficient reason based on known facts to believe that a crime has been committed, or that a certain property is connected with a crime.

The search, however, does not mean prosecutors have determined Bolton committed a crime.