FBI says it found classified documents in John Bolton's DC office
Source: Politico
09/23/2025 10:16 PM EDT
FBI agents executing a search warrant at former national security adviser John Boltons downtown Washington office last month turned up documents marked as classified, according to a court filing released Tuesday. A description of the documents gathered in the Aug. 22 search suggested they included materials that referenced weapons of mass destruction, the U.S. mission to the United Nations and records related to the U.S. governments strategic communications.
The inventory by an FBI agent doesnt specify the number of suspected classified documents. But it lists several collections or folders that were labeled confidential and some pages marked secret. The heading on at least one set marked confidential was redacted from the inventory, filed earlier this month in federal court in Washington.
FBI agents also carried out a search warrant the same morning at Boltons Bethesda, Maryland, home. The inventory from that search contained no outward indication that classified information was located. However, in both instances, agents reported seizing computers and other electronic devices whose contents were not detailed.
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.
Read more: https://www.politico.com/news/2025/09/23/fbi-classified-documents-john-bolton-dc-office-00577894
If Bolton had cooperated back during the Russia interference probe, we might not have gotten to this point. But his ego (and a book) got in the way.
This is all the same type of stuff that 45 was accused of AND indicted for doing.
The irony of all this? It's an eat-your-own move and he's toast now. But his kind "lives by the sword".

travelingthrulife
(3,358 posts)SarcasticSatyr
(1,353 posts)but I don't.
Coldwater
(227 posts)The FBI planted classified documents in John Bolton's DC Office
travelingthrulife
(3,358 posts)And if they were in his work office, maybe he could have them. It wasn't like they were found in his bathrooms or storage areas.
OAITW r.2.0
(30,651 posts)twodogsbarking
(15,980 posts)Clouds Passing
(5,904 posts)slightlv
(6,619 posts)I don't think we've had any actual national security... and especially not where TS/C papers are concerned... for over 25 years. Bush jr ushered in the age of "I don't care... let it slide". Of course, they went mostly digital and hid it on a TS server where the admin passwords were changed on a regular, irregular basis. Funny, but that server was the 2nd one that just kinda disappeared into the gloom of R administrations...
choie
(6,140 posts)to leave those documents in his home (if true). It he stinks of hubris so its certainly possible.
karynnj
(60,569 posts)I can imagine some classified stuff, especially confidential stuff might have been misfiled.
Consider this is similar to stuff found in both Pence 's and Biden's VP files and in Clinton's emails when the server was intended for nonclassified emails only - as the alternative
Gov is too.
chowder66
(11,337 posts)Miguelito Loveless
(5,222 posts)republianmushroom
(21,479 posts)Consequences to trump, Zero, nothing.
karynnj
(60,569 posts)He had some of the most secret intelligence possible, and some of that was kept in a bathroom accessable to countless people in his club. There was at least one video of Trump showing very secret Iran stuff to people without clearance.
From the description, Bolton 's transgressions might be more similar to those of Pence or Biden. In those cases, some documents marked classified were mixed in with nonclassified papers that were taken when they left positions. Clinton's emails were the same. She was using the private server instead of a .gov account for nonclassified emails. A few classified ones were found, some had not been classified when she received them.
If I were any former official, who had access to classified, I would hire someone very knowledgeable and with clearance to go thru everything. Not sure what should be done, if as is probably likely they find a few things. If not original documentation or if a copy was archived is it legal to destroy it?
Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin
(129,081 posts)At least he didn't leave them in the shitter.
Scrivener7
(57,304 posts)Nigrum Cattus
(1,024 posts)Bolton was not stupid. I'm sure after tsf removed his
security that he knew he was on the list. Lets see the
proof.