FBI Raids John Bolton’s Home in Renewed Classified Docs Probe as Declassified Memos Link Comey to 2016 Leaks

Federal agents raided the Maryland residence of former National Security Adviser John Bolton early Friday morning as part of a revived investigation into alleged mishandling of classified documents, according to officials familiar with the operation.

The search was carried out at Bolton’s home in Bethesda around 7 a.m. and was reportedly ordered by FBI Director Kash Patel. A senior Trump administration official confirmed the operation, which is part of a broader effort by the current Justice Department leadership to revisit unresolved national security investigations.

Patel, who has recently taken a more prominent role in federal law enforcement, appeared to reference the raid in a cryptic message posted to X (formerly Twitter) shortly after agents entered the property.

“NO ONE is above the law… @FBI agents on mission,” he wrote.

The probe into Bolton was initially launched during former President Donald Trump’s first term but was reportedly shelved during the Biden administration due to what one official described as “political concerns.” Sources say the investigation was reactivated under Patel’s directive, amid a wider push to examine past abuses of power and security violations within the federal government.

Bolton’s Memoir at the Center of Controversy

Bolton, who served as Trump’s national security adviser from 2018 to 2019, came under fire in 2020 following the release of his memoir, The Room Where It Happened. The book offered a scathing critique of Trump’s foreign policy decisions and revealed behind-the-scenes accounts of internal administration conflicts.

The Trump White House attempted to block the memoir’s publication, arguing that it contained classified information and violated a nondisclosure agreement Bolton signed during his time in office. Although the Justice Department opened a formal inquiry at the time, no charges were brought, and the case eventually faded from public view—until now.

The latest raid signals that the matter is once again under active federal review, though neither the FBI nor Bolton’s legal team has commented publicly on the renewed investigation. A request for comment from Bolton on Friday went unanswered.

New Evidence Emerges Against Former FBI Leadership

The Bolton development comes just one day after Patel publicly revealed a series of declassified memos suggesting that former FBI Director James Comey authorized the release of classified information to the press in the lead-up to the 2016 presidential election—contradicting statements he made under oath to Congress.

The memos were uncovered during a wider review of intelligence-related misconduct and were initially redacted before Attorney General Pam Bondi ordered their full release. The documents include testimonies and notes involving former FBI general counsel James Baker and former chief of staff James Rybicki.

One memo detailed how U.S. Postal Inspection Service agents concluded that Baker leaked classified materials to The New York Times in October 2016. Baker reportedly believed he was following a directive that originated with Comey, relayed to him by Rybicki.

“These newly declassified memos show how former FBI leadership authorized classified leaks and withheld the truth from Congress and the American people,” said Patel. “Thanks to President Trump’s commitment to transparency, the cover-up is being exposed. The public deserves nothing less than full accountability.”

A Broader Inquiry into Intelligence Misconduct

Attorney General Bondi, describing the findings as “abhorrent,” has established a special strike force within the Justice Department to investigate further. Her deputy, Harmeet Dhillon, indicated that charges under federal civil rights statutes—such as deprivation of rights under color of law—are being explored.

Patel has also opened a broader criminal investigation into what he calls “a decade of coordinated intelligence abuses.” The inquiry spans multiple cases, from the original Russia collusion probe to the FBI’s 2022 raid on Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate. The investigation is examining whether these actions were part of an orchestrated effort to influence political outcomes and suppress internal dissent.

Legal analysts note that while the standard statute of limitations for federal crimes is five years, certain national security offenses—such as unauthorized disclosure of classified information—can carry a ten-year limitation if part of an ongoing conspiracy or if harm to national security can be proven.

Political Fallout and Unanswered Questions

Bolton, once a key member of the Trump administration who later became one of its most outspoken critics, now finds himself at the center of a reinvigorated legal battle. Meanwhile, the Justice Department appears to be signaling a new era of accountability for figures once believed to be insulated by their political stature.

While details remain limited, the message from federal authorities is clear: prior assumptions of immunity are no longer guaranteed.

With more disclosures expected in the coming weeks, the investigations into past classified leaks and high-level misconduct may continue to reshape the political and legal landscape in Washington.