Kwasi Gyamfi Asiedu
Live reporter

Image source, BBC / Kwasi Gyamfi Asiedu

I just saw an FBI agent walking into the office complex where John Bolton works in downtown Washington DC.

He stopped at the foyer to speak to building staff before getting into a lift.

Bolton was spotted here earlier today by one of the other reporters here, and is still believed to be inside.

Image source, Reuters

We're continuing to monitor a live feed of police activity at John Bolton's home - you can watch live too at the top of the page.

In the last few moments, we've seen a large group of FBI agents leaving the former national security adviser's Maryland property and getting into vehicles. Some agents are still at the scene.

As we've been reporting, the FBI agents have also been seen at Bolton's office in downtown Washington DC - our reporter on the scene will let us know if there are developments there.

Kayla Epstein
US reporter

In 2020, the Trump administration sued to block John Bolton from publishing a memoir about his time as national security adviser in 2018 and 2019, alleging it contained classified information.

Bolton argued that he followed the government review process for the book, and accused the Trump administration of trying to silence him.

While a federal judge ultimately rejected the White House’s request to block publication, he did note that Bolton’s “unilateral conduct raises grave national security concerns” and excoriated Bolton for not following correct procedures to have his book cleared by security officials.

The book, which was ultimately published, contained unflattering portrayals of the first Trump White House.

“Washed up Creepster John Bolton is a lowlife who should be in jail, money seized, for disseminating, for profit, highly Classified information,” Trump tweeted in June 2020.

The Justice Department then launched a criminal investigation into Bolton, but that was dropped in June 2021 after Joe Biden took office.

Bolton has become one of Trump’s most prominent conservative critics in the years since.

Kwasi Gyamfi Asiedu
Live reporter, in Washington DC

I've arrived outside a building here in downtown Washington DC where John Bolton maintains an office.

The FBI was here earlier and Bolton was reportedly spotted here.

But so far, it’s just a gaggle of journalists here serenaded by the loud sounds of construction nearby.

Microphones and cameras have been set up in the event Bolton comes out and speaks to the press.

Asked about this morning's FBI raid on the home of his former national security adviser a few minutes ago, Donald Trump says he's "not a fan of John Bolton".

Speaking while on a visit to the White House Museum, Trump says: "I knew nothing about it, I just saw it this morning that they did a raid."

The president says that he expects to be briefed by the Department of Justice "probably sometime today", but adds: "I don't want to know about it, it's not necessary."

He adds: "I don't want to know about it. It's not necessary. I could know about it, I could be the one starting it. I'm actually the Chief Law Enforcement Officer. But I feel that it's better this way."

Trump also comments on Bolton's character, saying: "He could be very unpatriotic, we're going to find out."

Bernd Debusmann Jr
Reporting from the White House

I've called and texted John Bolton this morning to ask for comment, but haven't heard anything back yet.

I'll bring you any updates I hear.

As we've been reporting, the FBI has been carrying out a court-authorised search of John Bolton's Bethesda, Maryland home this morning.

We're also receiving footage showing FBI agents at the site of the building where Bolton keeps an office in Washington DC.

Image source, AFP via Getty Images

According to the BBC's US partner CBS, this morning's court-authorised search of John Bolton's home relates, at least in part, to a classified documents investigation.

As we've been reporting Bolton has previously been accused of mishandling classified information in his 2020 book - though there is no suggestion that today's search relates to this.

Bolton has not commented on the FBI's investigation, and a source tells CBS he hasn't been charged with anything at this time.

Image source, Getty Images

John Bolton served as the National Security Adviser during Trump's first presidency.

He was the third person to assume that role in that term - a role that was characterised by a string of resignations, public fallout with the president, and firings.

Before joining the Trump administration, he was briefly the US ambassador to the UN from 2005 to 2006 during the George W Bush administration. He had previously served as an assistant attorney general during the Ronald Reagan administration in the 1980s.

He also helped build the case that Saddam Hussein possessed weapons of mass destruction, which turned out to be wrong.

Bolton's relationship with Trump soured after policy differences began to emerge and the president announced he had fired him in a September 2019 social media post.

"I informed John Bolton last night that his services are no longer needed at the White House," he wrote. "I disagreed strongly with many of his suggestions, as did others in the Administration, and therefore I asked John for his resignation, which was given to me this morning."

Bolton disputed this fact saying he had voluntary offered to resign.

Bolton, a Republican, has in recent years become a vocal critic of Trump and said he didn't vote for his former boss in the 2020 election.

Earlier this year, Bolton's national security clearance was revoked by the Trump administration. His security detail, which he was assigned after assassination threats from Iran, was also pulled.

Image source, Reuters

Just now, we've seen footage of three agents wearing FBI-branded dark jackets carrying large cardboard boxes to the entrance of Bolton's home.

They then handed these over to gloved officials inside the house, before the front door was shut.

A reminder that as we share the latest updates on this morning's search here, you can also watch live as activity continues around the home of former national security adviser John Bolton.

We'll continue to bring you updates on this developing story as we get them.

A source familiar with the FBI's investigation tells the BBC's US news partner CBS that Bolton has not been charged with anything at this time.

There is nothing in official records of proceedings either, CBS reports.

Bernd Debusmann Jr
Reporting from the White House

I'm reporting from the White House this morning, and have asked if they have any information about this search.

So far they haven't shared anything, but I'll bring you any updates I hear as soon as I can.

Image source, Getty Images

As we've been reporting, FBI director Kash Patel wrote on social media that "NO ONE is above the law" as news of the agency's search of John Bolton's home broke

US Attorney General Pam Bondi followed suit, sharing Patel's social media post and adding: "America’s safety isn’t negotiable. Justice will be pursued. Always."

As it stands, neither Patel nor Bondi have confirmed that they are referring directly to this morning's events involving Trump's former national security adviser.

While we wait for more details to emerge on the FBI's raid on former national security adviser John Bolton's home, here's how it's looking at the scene.

Image source, AFP via Getty Images

Image source, Reuters

Image source, AFP via Getty Images

Image source, Reuters

Bernd Debusmann Jr
Reporting from Washington DC

Image source, Getty Images

Bolton had previously been accused of mishandling classified information in his 2020 book "The Room Where it Happened" - an account of his time in the first Trump administration between 2018 and 2019.

The allegations prompted a lawsuit from the Justice Department, which told a judge in 2019 that it was a "flagrant breach" of an agreement to not disclose classified matters.

The lawsuit was ultimately dropped in June 2021, during the administration of President Joe Biden.

There were no further details in FBI Director Kash Patel's X post, saying "no one is above the law", during the time of the raid, and it is unclear what he was referring to.

His post was re-tweeted by Attorney General Pam Bondi, who added that "America's safety isn't negotiable. Justice will be pursued. Always".

Bolton - who was previously ambassador to the UN during the Bush administration - had his security protection stripped by the Trump administration in January, along with several other former officials who have previously clashed with the president.

Since leaving government in 2019, Bolton has become a vocal critic of Trump, and wrote in his book that "a mountain of facts demonstrates that Trump is unfit to be president".

Bernd Debusmann Jr
Reporting from Washington DC

John Bolton, who served in the first Trump administration, has since become a vocal critic of the president.

The New York Post, which first reported the news, says that the search is part of a long-running probe into classified documents.

While FBI Director Kash Patel posted that "no-one is above the law" around the time the search was conducted, Bolton has yet to comment on the search.

According to the Associated Press, Bolton was not detained and no criminal charges have been filed.

Image source, AFP via Getty Images

FBI agents are searching the home of Donald Trump's former national security adviser John Bolton, US media reports.

Photos posted by some US news outlets show police vehicles and personnel in the area near Bolton's home in the Washington DC suburb of Bethesda, Maryland.

In a statement sent to CBS, the BBC's US news partner, the FBI said it was conducting "authorised activity in the area".

This is a breaking news story and we'll bring you more as we get it.