https://www.zerohedge.com/poli...ays-no-one-above-law

In a bombshell of a development, federal agents conducted a raid on the Maryland residence of former National Security Advisor John Bolton on Friday morning, according to various breaking sources.

One source connected to the investigation has described that the search was aimed at locating potentially classified documents that authorities suspect Bolton may still have in his possession.

There are no indicators as of yet that Bolton, who was Trump's national security adviser from 2018 to 2019, has been arrested or taken into custody.

"NO ONE is above the law," FBI Director Kash Patel posted to X Friday morning, but without giving direct reference to the Bolton house raid. "FBI agents on mission."

According to NY Post, which first revealed the raid:

Federal agents went to Bolton’s house in Bethesda, Md., at 7 a.m. in an investigation ordered by FBI Director Kash Patel, a Trump administration official told The Post.

...The probe — which is said to involve classified documents — was first launched years ago, but the Biden administration shut it down “for political reasons,” according to a senior US official.

The FBI are reportedly sorting through papers and boxes:

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Check the drawers where his wife keeps her underwear!

Is everything really a fucking “bombshell”?

Former officials seem to take classified documents with them. It isn’t new or surprising.

pretty unusual for gop to show a spine, why talk it down?

I can't understand the reasoning for these people to take classified materials home. I mean it's not like you would ever be able to use it to write a book or memoir with it for christ sake.

quote:

Originally posted by hooch:
I mean it's not like you would ever be able to use it to write a book or memoir with it for christ sake.

Bolton likely did this when he wrote his book in 2020, Trump's DOJ tried to block the release of the book arguing he indeed used classified material, but an Obama judge struck it down. And under the Biden administration, his DOJ stopped the investigation all together of Bolton and his use of classified materials for his personal gain.

quote:

Originally posted by oddball:

quote:

Originally posted by hooch:
I mean it's not like you would ever be able to use it to write a book or memoir with it for christ sake.

Bolton likely did this when he wrote his book in 2020, Trump's DOJ tried to block the release of the book arguing he indeed used classified material, but an Obama judge struck it down. And under the Biden administration, his DOJ stopped the investigation all together of Bolton and his use of classified materials for his personal gain.

Or to have as "insurance", to use against somebody if an embarrassing revelation becomes imminent?

For some reason Bolton seemed to lose his bearings. No, I don’t research his every move and thought, but seems he’s more of an agitator now days.

quote:

Former officials seem to take classified documents with them. It isn’t new or surprising.

I would hazard it’s not a ton different than coming home with a bunch of tools over the years if you work as a mechanic or retail. (Not premeditated theft just I forgot about the wrench in my pocket etc.)

I’m not saying classified docs should not be secured nor am I saying there are not instances of malice at play but I would guess the lions share of it on either side of the isle is “shit I forgot I had this in my portfolio I really gotta remember to get this back…….SQUIRREL.” We’ve all been there at some level or another.

quote:

Originally posted by jljones:
Is everything really a fucking “bombshell”?

Former officials seem to take classified documents with them. It isn’t new or surprising.

Handling classified material properly is similar to being pregnant, you either are or aren't.

And if you're caught not handling classified material properly, there certainly is or should be hell to pay.

Bolton has always been an asshole, but I didn't expect malicious wrongdoing (if in fact he did) from him.

While I would think Bolton was smart enough to not put himself in jeopardy, he's another that seems to have full on TDS that clouds one's judgement.

We'll have to see what they got and why they went there. Hopefully Kash will let us all know what this is about.

I'll bet a lot of Dems are doing some house cleaning right about now.

Bolton was a terrific UN Ambassador, very hawkish dealing with the enemies of the US. Brusk personality that did not make him any friends. If he kept classified documents it was a dumb move.

quote:

Originally posted by jljones:
Is everything really a fucking “bombshell”?

Former officials seem to take classified documents with them. It isn’t new or surprising.

Not everything is a "bombshell" for sure. If it's not a "bombshell" it is "jaw dropping" at least

A great case of someone taking classified material home was the last U.S. Ambassador to S. Vietnam, Graham Martin, who presided over the evacuation in 1975. He was so worried that he, personally, would be blamed for the decision and timing, he kept all of the highly classified reporting on the progress and intentions of the North Vietnamese in his office, then moved it to a trunk which he took with him when he was evacuated at the end. When he got back to the states, he put the trunk in a car, which got stolen, and the thieves took it to some woods and tore the trunk open and then just abandoned it. The classified material was scattered all around the woods when found and reported by someone. (Martin was never punished).

The best example of pilfering classified was the Sandy Berger case - after he was out of office, he went to the National Archives to find stuff he had worked on as the National Security Advisor so he could defend his reputation and ended up stuffing documents down his pants in the front to get them out of the building. THEY HAD HIM ON VIDEO TAPE doing it. He paid a fine and got two year's probation.

If Amb. Bolton had classified information at home - unambiguously marked as classified, finished products and documents - that he used in his book, he is going to get smoked. Although, based on the two previous examples, he will not end up going to jail. But it raises the questions of, how stupid was he to take it home, and how stupid was he to not have destroyed it after he used it in his 2020 book.

The lack of self-awareness is hilarious.

https://x.com/devorydarkins/st.../1958895967912305142

Trump revoked Bolton's security clearance within 48 hours of taking the oath of office. Bolton should've gotten rid of anything classified in January 2025, and if he still had some in August 25 then he's a dipshit.

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The lack of self-awareness is hilarious.

Unbelievably hypocritical!

FBI agents raided the Maryland home and Washington, DC office of President Trump’s former national security adviser John Bolton Friday morning in a high-profile probe of allegations that he sent “highly sensitive” classified documents to his family from a private email server while working in the White House.

https://nypost.com/2025/08/22/...onal-security-probe/

Investigators reopened a dormant probe into Bolton’s alleged use of a private email to send classified national security documents to his wife and daughter from his work desk before his dismissal by Trump in September 2019, according to a senior US official.

“While Bolton was a national security adviser, he was literally stealing classified information, utilizing his family as a cutout,” this person charged.

The probe was initially opened in 2020, and continued into the Biden administration, which froze the investigation.

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