Reports from multiple outlets suggest that John Bolton, former national security adviser to President Trump, may soon be criminally charged, possibly as early as next week.
The speculation follows an FBI raid on Bolton’s Maryland residence and Washington, D.C., office on August 22, 2025, conducted under a court-approved search warrant tied to an ongoing national security investigation.
Court documents that were later unsealed show that agents seized computers, documents, mobile phones, and folders labeled “Trump I-IV” as well as a binder titled “statements and reflections to Allied Strikes.” The warrant affidavit describes concerns about Bolton’s alleged unauthorized retention or transmission of classified materials.
A redacted portion of the affidavit also references a section titled “Hack of Bolton’s AOL Account by Foreign Entity”, raising questions about how certain communications may have been intercepted.
Bolton has not been charged publicly at this time. His attorney, Abbe Lowell, has maintained that all materials in Bolton’s possession were lawfully held and part of his long career in public service.
If an indictment is filed, it would come on the heels of recent high-profile charges against other prominent figures, reinforcing perceptions of an expanding scope of federal investigations into individuals who have disputed or criticized the Trump administration.
Legal experts emphasize that whether charges are filed depends on whether prosecutors believe they can meet the high burden of proving misconduct involving classified materials, particularly in matters of national security.
