Federal Bureau of Investigation agents executing a search warrant at former national security adviser John Bolton’s downtown Washington office last month discovered documents marked as classified, according to court filings unsealed Tuesday.

The revelations have intensified scrutiny of Bolton’s handling of sensitive materials, amid concerns that the renewed investigation—initiated under the Trump administration—may carry political overtones.

The August 22 search, detailed in an inventory filed in federal court, reportedly included materials referencing weapons of mass destruction, the U.S. mission to the United Nations, and strategic communications. While the inventory does not specify the exact number of suspected classified items, it lists multiple collections and folders labeled “confidential” and some pages marked “secret.” At least one “confidential” heading was redacted in the public version of the filing.

On the same morning, FBI agents also searched Bolton’s residence in Bethesda, Maryland. That inventory did not immediately reveal classified documents, but investigators seized computers and other electronic devices at both locations. The contents of these devices have not been disclosed.

The warrants targeted evidence of three felony offenses, including the unauthorized gathering, transmission, or retention of national defense information under the Espionage Act and the retention of classified materials without permission.

The probe mirrors a previous Justice Department investigation into Bolton’s 2020 memoir, The Room Where It Happened, which faced a lawsuit alleging it contained classified information. A federal judge at the time warned Bolton’s actions could have been criminal, but the inquiry was dropped in 2021 under the Biden administration without charges.

Court filings also reveal that investigators identified a foreign hack of Bolton’s AOL email account, though details of the breach and its detection remain unspecified.

Court filings from the FBI’s August 22 search of former national security adviser John Bolton’s Washington office revealed several categories of potentially classified records, including travel memos labeled “secret,” confidential documents from the U.S. mission to the United Nations, strategic communications materials marked confidential, and files related to weapons of mass destruction. “Secret” documents indicate information that could cause serious damage to national security if disclosed, while “confidential” materials, often used for routine diplomatic purposes, pose a moderate risk if exposed.

The findings increase Bolton’s potential legal exposure, as federal authorities have previously prosecuted individuals for knowingly retaining classified information outside secure channels. Bolton’s attorney did not immediately comment.

U.S. Magistrate Judge Moxila Upadhyaya, who approved the office search warrant, also handled former President Donald Trump’s 2023 indictment on election interference. The timing of the Bolton searches, shortly after Trump’s return to the White House, has sparked speculation about political motives. Trump has long criticized Bolton, calling him a “warmonger.”

Vice President JD Vance acknowledged on NBC’s Meet the Press that classified documents were a factor in the investigation, while Trump allies, including Dan Bongino and Kash Patel, celebrated the FBI action on social media.

The investigation draws on intelligence provided by the CIA, under Director John Ratcliffe, focusing on Bolton’s alleged mishandling of classified materials during his tenure as Trump-era U.N. ambassador and national security adviser.

As the probe continues, it highlights ongoing tensions in U.S. politics over the handling of classified information, raising questions about selective enforcement and the intersection of national security and political rivalry. (ILKHA)