Pointing to critical challenges…
Unsealed court filings reveal that during the Aug. 22 raid on former National Security Advisor John Bolton’s Washington, D.C. office, FBI agents seized documents explicitly labeled “classified,” “secret,” or “confidential.” The inventory lists materials referencing weapons of mass destruction, strategic communications, and U.S. mission dossiers at the United Nations.
The search was part of a broader investigation into whether Bolton improperly retained classified documents after his tenure in the first Trump administration. That same day, agents also searched his home in Bethesda, Maryland, seizing electronics, files, and storage devices, according to Politico.
Both search warrant applications indicated FBI agents were seeking evidence related to three felony offenses, including gathering, transmitting or losing national defense information in violation of the Espionage Act and retaining classified information without permission.
In Trump’s first term, Bolton faced a lawsuit claiming he included classified information in a book he wrote after leaving the administration. A federal judge warned publicly that the former White House official’s actions might have been criminal. However, a Justice Department probe did not lead to charges and was eventually dropped under the Biden administration in 2021.
It’s not known when the investigation restarted. Court filings indicate that investigators determined that Bolton’s AOL email account was hacked by a foreign entity, although details of the alleged hack and how the U.S. became aware of it remain unclear.
Redacted court filings related to the Washington search were released by Justice Department lawyers after several news organizations, including POLITICO, filed a formal motion asking for disclosure of the records. DOJ attorneys agreed to make public redacted versions of the inventory, search warrant and accompanying affidavit, but resisted blanket release of the information, citing a need to protect a national security investigation.
Items cataloged from the office raid include folders stamped “U.S. Mission to the United Nations – Confidential Documents,” pages labeled “Weapons of Mass Destruction Classified Documents,” and communications tied to diplomatic and defense policy.
Bolton’s attorney, Abbe Lowell, has defended his client, describing many of the materials as standard to a “40-year career” in public service and suggesting they were cleared for Bolton’s personal use.
No criminal charges have been filed to date. The federal inquiry is examining potential violations under statutes governing the unauthorized retention, transmission, or handling of national defense information.
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