Judge Unseals Redacted Affidavit in FBI Search of John Bolton’s Home Over Classified Documents

A federal judge on Friday unsealed a heavily redacted affidavit used to justify the FBI’s August 22 search of former National Security Adviser 👤John Bolton’s Maryland home, revealing that agents believed there was probable cause to suspect that classified and national defense information was being illegally retained.

Bolton, who served under President 👤Donald Trump for 17 months before being fired in 2019, has not been charged with a crime, according to the Associated Press.

The FBI seized phones, computer equipment, and typed documents during the search, according to the affidavit.

While a coalition of news organizations petitioned for full disclosure of the records, citing a “tremendous public interest,” U.S. Magistrate Judge Timothy Sullivan ruled that significant redactions were warranted.

“The investigation involves matters of national security and highly classified materials to which the public has no right of access,” Sullivan said.

More than a dozen pages of the released affidavit are partially or fully blacked out, citing the ongoing and sensitive nature of the criminal probe.