Sensitive documents in Bolton’s office: FBI seizes weapons of mass destruction secrets

24th September 2025

2 minutes read

Sensitive documents in Bolton’s office: FBI seizes weapons of mass destruction secrets

U.S. court records reveal that authorities seized classified documents from the office of former National Security Advisor John Bolton.

According to a court filing released Tuesday, FBI agents executing a search warrant at Bolton’s Washington D.C. office last month discovered documents marked as classified.

The description of the materials collected during the August 22 search indicates they included references to weapons of mass destruction, the U.S. mission to the United Nations, and records concerning the U.S. government’s strategic communications.

The inventory, compiled by an FBI agent, did not specify the exact number of classified records, but listed several sets or volumes marked “secret” as well as individual pages bearing that designation.

The title of at least one group of documents was redacted from the inventory, which had been filed earlier this month with the federal court in Washington.

Search and seizure

On the same morning, FBI agents also executed a search warrant at Bolton’s residence in Bethesda, Maryland. According to Politico, the resulting inventory did not indicate the discovery of classified materials.

However, in both searches, agents reported seizing computers and other electronic devices, though their contents were not detailed.

The warrant applications stated that the FBI was seeking evidence of three potential federal crimes, including the collection, transfer, or loss of national defense information in violation of the Espionage Act, as well as the unauthorized retention of classified records.

During Trump’s first term, Bolton had already faced a lawsuit alleging he had included classified information in a book he authored after leaving the administration. At the time, a federal judge warned that his conduct could amount to criminal behavior. Nonetheless, the Justice Department’s investigation did not lead to charges and was eventually dropped under President Biden in 2021.

It remains unclear when the investigation was resumed, but court filings suggest that one of Bolton’s electronic accounts had been compromised by a foreign actor. Details about the alleged breach and how U.S. authorities became aware of it remain uncertain.

Potential criminal liability

The categories of potentially classified records reported by the FBI in Bolton’s office included: travel memoranda marked “secret”; classified documents from the U.S. mission to the United Nations; classified records concerning strategic communications; and documents relating to weapons of mass destruction.

“Secret” is the middle level among the three main tiers of U.S. national security classification, intended to cover information expected to cause serious harm if disclosed. The designation is often used in routine diplomatic communications.

The materials collected during the search highlight the possibility that John Bolton could face criminal liability. As Politico noted, the federal government has in the past prosecuted individuals who knowingly retained classified information outside authorized secure channels.