On August 22, the FBI conducted a search of John Bolton’s Maryland residence, recovering a wide range of items now under federal scrutiny. According to unsealed court documents, agents seized several computers, hard drives, mobile phones, and materials referencing sensitive information from Bolton’s tenure under President Trump.
Among the most significant items recovered were three Dell computers—including a Precision Tower and an Inspiron desktop—two USB flash drives, and a Seagate external hard drive. Investigators also collected a red iPhone and a black iPhone with a protective case.
The search uncovered four boxes of printed daily activity summaries and a white binder labeled “Statements and Reflections to Allied Strikes.” In addition, officials seized folders containing typed documents titled “Trump I,” “Trump II,” “Trump III,” and “Trump IV,” suggesting they relate directly to Bolton’s interactions with or documentation of President Trump’s foreign policy decisions.
Federal prosecutors allege that some of the material in Bolton’s possession may involve classified assessments of U.S. military actions and diplomatic communications. The Justice Department has not commented publicly on the charges under consideration, but officials have confirmed the materials are being reviewed for violations of the Espionage Act and federal record-keeping laws.
Bolton has not been arrested or formally charged. His legal team has not released a statement regarding the raid. The investigation places him among a growing list of former national security officials facing legal scrutiny over post-service handling of sensitive government information.
