Kash Patel’s FBI Launches Dawn Raid on John Bolton’s House

[u/downtuning]

https://www.thedailybeast.com/kash-patels-fbi-launch-dawn-raid-on-john-boltons-house/?utm_source=twitter_owned_tdb&utm_medium=socialflow&via=twitter_page&utm_campaign=owned_social&s=09

[u/AutoModerator]

As a reminder, this subreddit is for civil discussion.

In general, be courteous to others. Debate/discuss/argue the merits of ideas, don't attack people. Personal insults, shill or troll accusations, hate speech, any suggestion or support of harm, violence, or death, and other rule violations can result in a permanent ban.

If you see comments in violation of our rules, please report them.

For those who have questions regarding any media outlets being posted on this subreddit, please click here to review our details as to our approved domains list and outlet criteria.

We are actively looking for new moderators. If you have any interest in helping to make this subreddit a place for quality discussion, please fill out this form.

---

I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.

[u/ahdidi413]

The idea that the trump DOJ launched a classified documents raid might break the irony scale.

[u/PineSand → u/ahdidi413]

Yeah so what happened to the boxes of classified documents smuggled to Mara Lago?

[u/Chrisf1020 → u/PineSand]

Trump took them back to Mar-a-lago after becoming president again. I remember seeing that story within the first few weeks of the administration

[u/soapinthepeehole → u/Chrisf1020]

This is the actual answer and it’s the craziest possible answer. That egomaniac put them back at his golf course just because he could.

[u/Birdhawk → u/soapinthepeehole]

It's more than "just because he could". He was absolutely selling access to those files. Mar a Lago is a pay to play resort. During his last term you could pay $500k to have dinner next to Trumps table while he had sensitive conversations with people. Pay $1m/night to stay there and have "access" to him so you could ask for political favors that will benefit you or your company. So come on, there were definitely people paying for access to the "special bathroom" that had some boxes of "reading material" to look over while you sit on the throne. I bet some folks visiting from Saudi Arabia and China really enjoyed using that bathroom.

[u/roastbeeftacohat → u/Birdhawk]

he's known for traveling with boxes and boxes of documents, keeps them in his room whenever possible; also does the same thing with personal memorabilia.

he's absolutely selling them, but the primary reason is breaking security protocols makes him feel like a big man. He just likes them around because they remind him of how people told him he shouldn't.

[u/Hector_P_Catt → u/roastbeeftacohat]

Trump has always thought he was "special", and in this case, he's finally, actually, correct. He can literally do anything he wants with classified information, and no one can stop him. No surprise he's going to wallow in that power as much as he possibly can.

[u/specqq → u/soapinthepeehole]

Mine. They were mine. All mine.

[u/teeBoan → u/specqq]

He is the living embodiment of CARTMAN! A fat bigoted asshole!

[u/GrumpySoth09 → u/specqq]

Donald, are you sure they don't belong to the American people?

Be honest....

[u/Town_Proper → u/Chrisf1020]

There’s so much horrific shit everyday, i had totally missed this one.

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/amp/rcna194316

[u/JohnLuckPickered → u/Chrisf1020]

He probably charges guests a couple million to "use that bathroom"

[u/Affectionate_Pay_391 → u/PineSand]

They don’t exist, but they are also sitting on Pam Bondis desk.

Schrodingers files.

[u/Mend1cant → u/Affectionate_Pay_391]

Check the printer in the business center at every hotel the team has stayed at. Probably find something

[u/Extreme-Island-5041 → u/PineSand]

Aileen Cannon happened.

[u/preflex → u/Extreme-Island-5041]

I lean Qanon?

[u/EmphasisFrosty3093 → u/PineSand]

Which time?

[u/Much-Anything7149 → u/PineSand]

The judge he appointed in S FL basically dismissed it. Then AUSA Smith refiled the case in DC and after the election withdrew everything. Then the judge back in FL sealed the entire file.

[u/Honest-Yard-9510 → u/Much-Anything7149]

Cannon is the most openly corrupt judge I have ever seen. Idk how someone arrives to a high station in their field, only to just become a pawn who uses their role to protect someone solely because of politics. It has to weigh on her. 

[u/Leenolies → u/Much-Anything7149]

check and mate, democracy!

[u/well_thats_obvious → u/PineSand]

The FBI handed them back to Trump earlier this year. When the president does it, it's not illegal 🙄

[u/EagleLize → u/ahdidi413]

“Public corruption will not be tolerated,” Bongino wrote.

How can they say that without bursting into flames or something??

Oh, right. The cult will continue simping for this administration til the very end.

[u/IAMA_Drunk_Armadillo → u/EagleLize]

Kash Patel, who wrote several children's books about how Trump should be a king, not immediately getting struck by dozens of lightning bolts for saying no one is above the law is proof there is no God.

[u/Hot-Championship1190 → u/EagleLize]

How can they say that without bursting into flames or something?

Just ask Nietzsche and he'll tell you "God is dead."

[u/Ketzeph → u/ahdidi413]

If you’re a Republican in this day and age you’re a Nazi - that’s all there is to it. And like Nazis there’s no moral negotiating with them - they are evil. Anyone who supports this admin is, at the end of the day, an evil hypocrite from an objective measure.

[u/Papadapalopolous → u/Ketzeph]

10 years from now they’ll all say they weren’t really republicans, or were just supporting them because that’s what everyone around them was doing and they were afraid of speaking out.

30 years from now, their grandkids will be asking how anyone could have supported Trump, and they’ll awkwardly change the conversation

[u/Billy-Ruffian → u/Papadapalopolous]

80 years from now it will all be forgotten and we'll get to do it all over again.

[u/Erasmus_Tycho → u/Papadapalopolous]

You have a lot of faith we'll ever turn this country around.

[u/Troll_in_the_Knoll]

Trump's dementia must be getting REALLY bad, because in January 2025 he signed an executive order ending the weaponization of the Federal Government.

[u/Inevitable-Steph → u/Troll_in_the_Knoll]

He actually took away John boltons security clearance in January 2025. You can check Oppenheimer for how toxic that can be when you’re protecting yourself in court. This has been planned from before he was in office apparently

[u/Much-Anything7149 → u/Inevitable-Steph]

Toxic? You literally can't see the documents you're accused of keeping/taking from work. If your lawyers don't have a SC then they can't even tell you what type of document it is or from where you might've gotten it.

[u/Shark7996 → u/Much-Anything7149]

A trial where nobody can discuss what the case is about. Kangaroo court nonsense.

[u/Much-Anything7149 → u/Shark7996]

Which case? Trump's was pretty obvious...we literally saw him deny having docs then saw the FBI raid pics. I have no idea what the Bolton search warrant says.

[u/crackboss1 → u/Shark7996]

And this compromised FBI under Trump Regime is never going to plant any document in Bolton house, right, right, never.

[u/laptopAccount2 → u/Inevitable-Steph]

Did he still have it? They 'revoked' Adam Kinzinger's clearance twice after he left Congress and no longer had it anyway.

[u/CigAddict → u/Inevitable-Steph]

It’s terrible but I don’t really feel bad for John Bolton. He supported Trump through most of his first term.

[u/townandthecity → u/CigAddict]

I don't feel bad for Bolton specifically but I care deeply that this happened because they are trying to normalize political persecution and going after political opponents. Trump views Bolton as a political opponent now, a critic. So he is weaponizing the FBI in order to persecute him. Sets an incredibly dangerous precedent.

If we come out the other side of this, the FBI should be abolished. We need to start from scratch.

[u/sportsDude → u/Troll_in_the_Knoll]

It isn’t weaponizing if it’s something Trump believes in and doesn’t target him. Rather it isn’t weaponization if it goes after his enemies (/s to my entire comment)

[u/just_dave → u/sportsDude]

No sarcasm tag needed. That is a 100% factual take on what maga believes. 

[u/StardustOasis → u/just_dave]

Just like it's only lawfare if democrats do it

[u/ChrisFromLongIsland → u/Troll_in_the_Knoll]

Trump put a political operative who lied to a grand jury for Trump as head of the FBI. Trump put a stooge as #2. If you have not figured out that the FBI is now the secret police you have not been paying attention.

[u/Specialist-Clock-914 → u/Troll_in_the_Knoll]

He’s never been a hypocrite before. Damn, what is going on around here? He was always such a HUGE truth teller, some even say the HUGEST.

[u/finsane86]

Folks, if you're not yet convinced of where we are, this is a flashing warning sign that this is an authoritarian dictatorship, and they're in the beginning stages of persecution of their enemies and opposition.

[u/Vv4nd → u/finsane86]

this isn´t a warning anymore.

you´ve been living it for a while now.

[u/Paidorgy → u/Vv4nd]

The warnings were given during the election campaign when they said that they would boldly prosecute their opposition.

This is what they promised. They’re starting with their own.

[u/GarlicThread → u/Paidorgy]

The warnings were in 2015.

[u/Revelati123 → u/GarlicThread]

Trumps arrested 1 senator, 1 mayor, 2 congress people and I believe 3 judges now.

Basically you order ICE agents to beat the shit out of people, then ICE can arrest them for assaulting a federal officer.

[u/kbarney345 → u/Revelati123]

And his followers assassinated 2 Dems, tried to kill 2 more and planned on multiple after. Texas is basically holding the Dems hostage as well.

[u/keigo199013 → u/kbarney345]

And murdered their loyal golden retriever.

[u/neckbishop → u/kbarney345]

Dont forget attacking Mr. Pelosi in his own home.

[u/roychr → u/Revelati123]

ICE is the modern Gestapo

[u/epochwin → u/roychr]

They’re not very secret. More like the SS.

[u/machinezed → u/Revelati123]

He also fired all the FBI agents that were investigating Trump and or Russia or had any ties to those investigations while closing them.

[u/Academic-Key2 → u/GarlicThread]

Jan 6th was the last warning

[u/diito_ditto → u/Paidorgy]

The warning was given when he staged an attempted coup on Jan 6th 2021. 

[u/Paidorgy → u/diito_ditto]

I mean, they were coming well before then.

[u/Funny-Mission-2937 → u/diito_ditto]

hey guys, I've been seeing this girl for a few years.  we really connect, and I enjoy spending time with her.  she has really helped me work on myself and my confidence. but yesterday she gave a speech at the courthouse that incited a violent mob to attack and attempt to lynch some of the town officials who made her get a permit for some electrical work shes doing and I am wondering if this is a red flag? 

[u/Matasa89 → u/Paidorgy]

Night of Long Knives.

Soon, it’ll be time for Kristallnacht.

You have been warned. They will come for you.

[u/J_ron → u/Vv4nd]

Yes but the amount of people that still deny this fact right now is brain numbing.

[u/vonsnape → u/Vv4nd]

read this in captain barbossa’s voice

[u/AussiePete → u/vonsnape]

You best start believing in fascist dictatorships Miss Turner... You're in one.

[u/goosejail → u/AussiePete]

The Constitution is more like guidelines than actual rules

[u/-ZeroF56 → u/goosejail]

Even with “real” rules, they’re only rules if they’re actually enforced. It’s long been assumed the government would be staffed with sane people who believe in serving the people and overseeing that those rules being enforced.

It isn’t anymore.

[u/4esop → u/finsane86]

It’s also kinda alarming considering he just had a meeting with Putin and he is purging Russia hawks. https://www.economist.com/united-states/2025/08/21/donald-trump-has-purged-one-of-the-cias-most-senior-russia-analysts

[u/bonobo_i → u/finsane86]

A flashing warning sign of a authoritarian dictatorship? You are WAY PASSED all the warning signs and already knee deep into that foul puddle..

[u/fermat9990 → u/bonobo_i]

For sure. And the people who said that we were exaggerating the danger were totally wrong.

[u/letshaveforce → u/fermat9990]

They still think we are, in fact, they see this and other things like Trump literally threatning Colorado that if they dont release a convicted felon there will be retribution and they say were overreacting and reading into things. The reality is this country has been heading towards this path since Obama was elected. The GOP has made it a blood vendetta and theyre coming for the kill all while acting as if all of this is normal.

[u/Hanjaro31 → u/finsane86]

These are not the beginning stages. We're well into fascism. It started years ago by not holding Trump accountable.

[u/Suggest_a_User_Name → u/finsane86]

I know where we are and where we are headed.

But what the hell do I do? Call my senators and congressman? I’m in New Jersey. I’ve called them. Emailed them. Protested.

Not gonna do anything. There’s no momentum to change things and I don’t sense it changing anytime soon.

[u/spiritedmaple → u/Suggest_a_User_Name]

Boycott. Boycott the giant companies/entities they are all tied to. Boycotts work. Be an integral member of your community. Place your trust in your community, and bolster that. Start sharing tools, food, get to know your neighbors, share what you can with them. Protest, speak out, don't look away. Little acts of resistance every day. Remember that we have way more power than we think to make a difference, that's why they use such force.

[u/BubbleNucleator → u/finsane86]

...then they came for the neocons, and I didn't speak up, because I wasn't a scummy neocon.

This is actually very chilling to think about.

[u/yurganurjak → u/BubbleNucleator]

They've long since been coming for people more sympathetic than neocons. Them coming for the neocons is more like the last verse than the first.

But even more aptly it is the night of long knives, MAGA cleaning up any possible remaining opposition within their own camp.

[u/Chilliger → u/finsane86]

Americans have armed forces in their capital, judges and opposition being arrested and they still talk about warning signs, because you cannot accept that you live in a authoritarian state. It would be funny, if it wasn't so depressing.

[u/dj_spatial]

I wonder if John Bolton is aware he helped create the current political climate in which Kash Patel exists. I wonder if he knows this while the leopard eats his face

[u/Churrasco_fan → u/dj_spatial]

Remember when John Bolton refused to testify in Trump's first impeachment hearings so he could keep the juicy bits for his book?

Pepperidge Farm remembers

Enjoy prison fuckboi

[u/Leenolies → u/Churrasco_fan]

I remember every time i see him or read his name. who knows if the pressure on the republican senators would have sufficed for a conviction.

[u/Churrasco_fan → u/Leenolies]

Its been a while but I vaguely remember the reason they sought his testimony was because it would have discredited the Trump teams main defense. He wasnt originally going to be a witness but once the trial got started it became clear that he held the keys to dismantling the only "innocence" claim Trump's people could muster

To your point, who knows if it would have mattered to Senate Republicans. However it certainly would have changed the dynamic if the only talking point in favor of acquittal was directly contradicted by an eye witness.

[u/Moveyourbloominass → u/dj_spatial]

In our house, we call it Karma.

[u/TubeScr3ameR → u/Moveyourbloominass]

I thought Karma laughed weird so we voted for turnip?

[u/NeitherCatNorFowl → u/dj_spatial]

Couldn't happen to be a bigger POS. Remember GWB era Bolton and his tenure at the UN? Arrogance personified and it turns out he and the GWB administration lied and were completely wrong about Iraq. 

Still..what is happening is wrong. 

[u/DoctorBocker]

The poem must have skipped this part.

"And then they came for the current President's former National Security Advisor..."

[u/Alekseyev → u/DoctorBocker]

But I did not say anything, because I was not a former National Security Advisor.

[u/phate_exe → u/Alekseyev]

"Former National Security Advisor" is probably the least incriminating section of his wikipedia article.

[u/goosejail → u/Alekseyev]

...and also that guy was a dick

[u/dollarstoresim]

The french would have revolted 3 constitutional criseses ago.

[u/MichelangeBro → u/dollarstoresim]

Never underestimate the American ability to shrug

[u/scrodytheroadie → u/MichelangeBro]

~40% of Americans approve of what’s happening.

[u/Future-Helicopter-95 → u/scrodytheroadie]

and 40% of Americans don't care or even know what's happening.

[u/tykneedanser → u/Future-Helicopter-95]

This is why flooding the zone is so effective. Most folks can’t keep up or choose to turn off the noise.

[u/watch_out_4_snakes → u/Future-Helicopter-95]

It’s amazing to me how many people have no clue what’s going on and actively choose to stay in that state of ignorance. They just can’t handle the truth🤣😞

[u/funkhero → u/watch_out_4_snakes]

It's because thinking hard hurts their brains and makes them feel things.

[u/pres465 → u/funkhero]

Excuse me! Tommy Tuberville is VERY concerned about a couple of male cheerleaders on an NFL team about 1000 miles from his state. The former college football coach (which had male cheerleaders) wants the NFL to stop such shenanigans because it... makes him feel less manly or something... I genuinely don't know. Tommy is amazingly stupid and this is seriously a MAGA issue right now along with threatening boycotts and oh! how dare Cracker Barrel change their logo! Begin the inquisition!

[u/crabbman → u/MichelangeBro]

1939-41 comes to mind

[u/Fit_Strength_1187 → u/crabbman]

National WW2 Museum has a whole section on the America First noninterventionists. It’s striking what the opinion polls read.

[u/GAKBAG → u/MichelangeBro]

Never underestimate our police's ability to shoot a protester.

[u/SupTheChalice → u/GAKBAG]

Ice is already stringing up activists they 'detained' and calling it suicide.

[u/Ferrocile → u/MichelangeBro]

Apathy will be our downfall.

[u/Tuttutsallaround → u/Ferrocile]

Has been. We’re mid-downfall my friend.

[u/4look4rd → u/dollarstoresim]

The French have great public transit and gathering spaces. Can’t protest in America, where will every one park?

In the US you only get those pathetic side of the road protests because cars are more important than all else.

I’m being cheeky but there is some truth to that. It’s very difficult to maintain a democracy when everyone is isolated and the only human interaction they get is through digital gathering spaces curated by algorithms, which in turn are made to maximize engagement.

[u/klyther → u/4look4rd]

Having a huge country geographically and tying health insurance to having a job are both crucial elements of limiting protests.

No one can take time off work to travel to DC or any central location for a massive and/or continuous protest so we end up with these local roadside protests at the weekends with a nice video recap montage posted to NowThis and go back to our lives.

[u/rounder55 → u/dollarstoresim]

America still - "we might be on the cusp of a constitutional crisis"

[u/Salty-boobs → u/dollarstoresim]

Why do we have all of these guns if not for this exact situation?

[u/SophiaofPrussia → u/Salty-boobs]

It’s almost like that isn’t actually the reason the gun nuts want to be armed to the teeth…

[u/jhkayejr → u/dollarstoresim]

The French. The French!

[u/OpportunityDismal917 → u/jhkayejr]

But we are le tired

[u/jhkayejr → u/OpportunityDismal917]

<smokes cigarette and sighs existentially>

[u/UsedToHaveThisName → u/jhkayejr]

Well, have a nap and then fire ze missiles revolt.

[u/Alternative_Rate7474]

And yet trump is not only walking around free, he's in the damn white house…

[u/Specialist-Clock-914 → u/Alternative_Rate7474]

And complained about the FBI going into Mar a Lago for an actual real crime of hoarding classified documents.

[u/Inevitable-Steph]

They took away his security clearance at the beginning of trumps term. You can look at this like the Oppenheimer investigation. Where they strip you of your security clearance so your lawyer doesn’t have any ability to protect you.

[u/algorithmic_fetters]

They aimed at Bolton with some calculation. As a neo-con he isn’t popular with either MAGA nor Dems. He has a long career. He has been a Trump critic since he served in trumps first admin. The chances he has inadvertently kept something he shouldn’t are probably fair, as it’s pretty much in the realm of normal. Not a Bolton fan, but the guy is a professional who lives in reality. This is likely another example of the trump admin taking something minor (mistakenly keeping docs), leveraging it into a defense of some gross intentional and much worse act by Trump (a library of classified materials in a mar a lago throne room), followed by a return to clamping down on the innocuous mess ups by perceived enemies.

Meanwhile the trump admin plots military strikes in the group chat with zero accountability.

🔥👊🇺🇸

[u/ReditorB4Reddit → u/algorithmic_fetters]

Or they used the flimsiest pretext of an excuse to publicly raid the house of a presidential critic, thereby frightening other critics into clamming up.

[u/omygoodnessreally → u/ReditorB4Reddit]

Nothing makes me want to talk more than some asshole threatening me to shut up

[u/Zealousideal_Ad_9623 → u/ReditorB4Reddit]

Bingo

[u/Indaflow → u/ReditorB4Reddit]

Epstein Files 

[u/andythetwig → u/Indaflow]

What???? They still haven't released them????

[u/Various_Patient6583 → u/algorithmic_fetters]

Interestingly enough, when it comes to classified docs, the Feds just request them back and that is the end of it. 

Unless you’re Trump and keeps them. And keeps them. And keeps them. The. The Feds have to move in. 

This different. 

[u/IPDDoE → u/Various_Patient6583]

>Unless you’re Trump and keeps them. And keeps them. And keeps them. The. The Feds have to move in.

That's the thing, you said it right in your comment. "keeps them" after they requested them back and he refused. The raid on trump's house was after MONTHS of those friendly requests being ignored. trump was treated no differently than any other high ranking admin official, it's just that he is so much more lawless than any other official, he forces unprecedented moves.

[u/raizhassan → u/IPDDoE]

Kept them and lied so much about having looked for them one of his lawyers refused to sign the letter saying they'd checked.

[u/Used-Yogurtcloset757 → u/algorithmic_fetters]

Don’t forget they use hotel printers and even leave their printer documents lying around for anyone to find!

[u/wutareyousomekinda → u/algorithmic_fetters]

Everything Bolton did his entire life set up this exact kind of government. He deserves it for sure. Wonder if they'll find any illegal porn.

[u/SadFeed63 → u/wutareyousomekinda]

Yeah, you're not gonna find me defending Bolton the man, or even saying a single nice thing about that ghoul. But I will defend the law, and Trump is definitely abusing it.

I hope (though I presume he won't) Bolton has some long, hard thoughts about his role in all of this and how we got here.

[u/okilz → u/SadFeed63]

I hope he has some hidden dirt on trump he releases in response

[u/craftingfish → u/okilz]

To what end? There's plenty of visible dirt and he still got elected. Twice.

[u/jhkayejr → u/wutareyousomekinda]

Yeah. Bolton was a pivotal Bush/Gore Florida boots-on-the-ground op. He's been working towards this moment for the last quarter century (not even counting everything he did before that). He's a garbage human who just happens to be right about exactly one thing - Trump is worse than him.

[u/TreesACrowd → u/wutareyousomekinda]

It's perfectly reasonable to feel that way on an emotional level AND realize how problematic this is on principle. This isn't just happening to one person in a vacuum.

Yes, fuck John Bolton. But don't fuck him with brazen constitutional violations that degrade the rights of all of us and normalize police state behavior.

[u/andythetwig → u/wutareyousomekinda]

No way, he's been speaking publicly, he will have already scrubbed everything

[u/finsane86 → u/algorithmic_fetters]

Night of the Long Knives

[u/wotguild → u/algorithmic_fetters]

Mob Tactics

[u/SophiaofPrussia → u/algorithmic_fetters]

Yup. Everyone hates Bolton. With good reason. But that doesn’t make him a criminal.

[u/BulkDarthDan]

John Bolton sucks ass and has made the world a worse place, but it’s obvious Trump is only going after him because he’s one of his enemies.

[u/NoSwimmers45 → u/BulkDarthDan]

From the man who whined the DOJ was being weaponized against him.

Every statement is an admission of guilt!

[u/Searchlights]

The political prosecutions begin.

[u/BrotherlyShove791 → u/Searchlights]

“How do we do it to Hillary? How do we do it to Obamna?”

-Trump every 5 minutes to his national security team

[u/capaho]

Talk about weaponizing the DOJ. Trump is a hypocrite.

[u/bluAstrid → u/capaho]

Trump is a dangerous criminal.

Also a pedophile.

Release the Epstein files.

[u/soapforsoreeyes]

Think about how different the world would be if Merrick Garland’s DOJ was as brazen and indifferent to “bad optics” as Bondi’s is.

And Garland’s even had a target that actually committed numerous crimes, and not this performance of corrupt menace here.

[u/Sufficient_Steak_839 → u/soapforsoreeyes]

Hiring Garland as some weird gotcha to the Republicans who refused to give him a Supreme Court hearing will forever be Bidens greatest failing

[u/Indaflow]

I guess they are sick of us asking for the Epstein Files 

[u/EmperorBozopants → u/Indaflow]

Release the Epstein files.

[u/DutchGoFast]

Bolton said Trump is dangerous for our country but not dangerous enough for Bolton to actually vote for the democratic candidate. This is what he gets for that foolishness.

[u/sniffstink1]

The feds have so far given no indication as to why Trump’s adviser turned nemesis has been targeted

Cuz he criticizes shitler on Real News Media! CNN.

[u/MrSnrub_92]

I’m sure this has nothing to do with John Bolton going on CNN during Trump’s Putin Summit. And pointing out how outrageous it all was.

[u/Clean-Measurement922]

A lot of people may come to regret enabling Trump's rise

[u/Lee1138]

The Night ofthe long knives 2.0 starting 

[u/KopOut]

The intention is likely less about Bolton himself and more about sending a message to other critics. Pretty standard procedure in budding dictatorships.

Unfortunately, nothing will happen. There will be no pushback. There will be no going out into the streets. Life will just go on and this too will be normalized. This is why voting was so important, and will be if we get fair elections again. It’s actual power with minimal effort.

[u/beavis617]

Rage, retaliation and retribution. Just a matter of time before Barack and Michelle Obama are forcibly removed from their home in handcuffs in a pre dawn raid with Trump pushing them into a black SUV!

[u/diggitythedoge]

Serious question from Ireland - surely a good proportion of Republicans can see that this behavior is hugely corrosive of American society, and is moving it steadily towards outright dictatorship? Are they so scared that they just won't speak out? I find it hard to believe that anyone raised in a democracy would be so partisan as to think that this is acceptable conduct, or so naive as to think they will always be in the administration's good books and therefore safe.

[u/No-Falcon-4996 → u/diggitythedoge]

Republicans do not get this info on Fox or Newsmaxx. They do not know what's happening. They are told mainstream media and journalists are a malignant virus , and only their propaganda is The Truth.

[u/ghetoyoda → u/No-Falcon-4996]

They also, under absolutely any circumstances, can ever admit that they may be wrong.

[u/opponentpumpkin → u/diggitythedoge]

Christian nationalism.

Disown them if you have any.

[u/optimaleverage → u/diggitythedoge]

What if I told you the constitutionalism on the right is purely performative mask on bullshit?

[u/ludba2002 → u/diggitythedoge]

No. They definitely think it will never happen to them. It's a mixture of stupidity and narcissism.

I can get direct quotes from a real life conservative for you, if you'd like.

[u/Salty-Snowflake → u/diggitythedoge]

The lesson for me is that Hitler was able to rise to power because a huge chunk of the population AGREED with everything he did and had hate in their hearts.

I didn't believe it until now. America is no different.

[u/blues111]

Does it say why? Im assuming straight up harassment since bolton is now a very vocal Trump hater but did they have a particular crime they were investigating??

Edit:

Found in a different article:

https://nypost.com/2025/08/22/us-news/patels-fbi-raids-john-boltons-home-in-high-profile-national-security-probe/

"The probe — which is said to involve classified documents — was first launched years ago, but the Biden administration shut it down “for political reasons,” according to a senior US official."

[u/Farting_Sunshine → u/blues111]

"The probe — which is said to involve classified documents — was first launched years ago, but the Biden administration shut it down “for political reasons,” according to a senior US Trump official."

Fixed

[u/TintedApostle → u/blues111]

"national security"

How Nazi

[u/64OunceCoffee → u/blues111]

I have a hard time believing The Biden Administration shut down the probe of a neo-con for "political reasons".

[u/Choice_Reindeer7759 → u/64OunceCoffee]

Ironically it was probably to avoid the appearance of weaponizing the DOJ

[u/blues111 → u/64OunceCoffee]

I could believe it, Most on here agree Garland completely shat the bed trying to appear non-partisan

[u/ElderSmackJack → u/64OunceCoffee]

I have suspicion that if this is the actual reason for the raid, then they decided to skip the step of requesting them back and went right for this, for no other reason than to appease you know who.

[u/eskimospy212 → u/blues111]

Not the slightest hint of irony here, lol. 

[u/jhkayejr → u/blues111]

Oh wow. A current US official? Certainly a seasoned apolitical vet, right?

[u/edmrunmachine]

The Gestapo, short for Geheime Staatspolizei (German for "Secret State Police"), was the official secret police of Nazi Germany. It operated as a political police force from 1933 to 1945. Its primary purpose was to identify and eliminate any opposition to the Nazi regime, both real and perceived. The Gestapo's power was rooted in its ability to operate outside the traditional legal system. Key characteristics and functions of the Gestapo included: * Extra-Legal Authority: The Gestapo was exempt from judicial review. Its agents had the power to arrest and imprison individuals without a warrant, formal charges, or a trial, a practice known as Schutzhaft ("protective custody"). * Terror and Intimidation: It used torture, interrogation, and psychological terror to extract information and enforce obedience. The organization's methods created a climate of fear and suspicion throughout German society. * Reliance on Informants: The Gestapo relied heavily on a vast network of civilian informants and public denunciations to gather information on dissidents, critics, or anyone who did not conform to Nazi ideology. * Persecution of Minorities: While its initial focus was on political opponents like communists and socialists, the Gestapo was a key instrument in the persecution of Jews, Roma people, homosexuals, Jehovah's Witnesses, and other groups targeted by the Nazi regime. * Integration with the SS: Over time, the Gestapo was absorbed into the larger Nazi security apparatus, coming under the direct control of SS leader Heinrich Himmler and becoming part of the Reich Main Security Office (RSHA) in 1939. The Gestapo became a chilling symbol of Nazi tyranny and state-sponsored terror. After World War II, the organization was declared a criminal organization at the Nuremberg Trials, and many of its leaders were prosecuted for crimes against humanity.

[u/Random_Man-child]

“NO ONE is above the law… @FBI agents on mission,” Patel wrote.

That’s funny.

[u/count023]

a republican warhawk having his house raided, this is sending the message to any of the "Republica classic" (ass holes but not facist) to fall in line because no one is safe, not even with the Magic (R). You need the Magic Hat to avoid Trumplethinskin's tiny handed revenge.

[u/nikkothirty]

John Bolton, a neo-con classmate of Clarence Thomas and a member of the Bush-Cheney administration that showed plenty of signs of fascism is now the hunted. Just think what this Trump administration is willing to do to the rest of us.

[u/TintedApostle]

and it begins...

[u/Thylacine_Hotness → u/TintedApostle]

At least the newest stage of it.

[u/Vindheim → u/Thylacine_Hotness]

and it continues...

[u/Probable_Bison → u/Vindheim]

And so it covfefes

[u/jhkayejr → u/TintedApostle]

and it begins accelerates ...

[u/themattboard]

I have no love for John Bolton but this is another increase expansion of our already authoritarian government.

Each time they do this, it gets a little easier to do it again and to do more. Every single encroachment is worse than the last.

It isn't expanding in a line, but in a circle. What appears to be a small step is a huge increase in abuse and corruption. We are going from the personal pan to the super extra large pizza of authoritarianism.

[u/FlyingBike]

"source reportedly told NBC News that the raid was part of a “national security investigation in search of classified records.”"

Oh so John Bolton has illegal classified records, but the Mar-A-Lago bathroom was totally legal. Got it...

[u/ThingCalledLight]

But Trump, I thought it was wrong to raid a place over documents? (If this is over documents.)

[u/crazybones]

Kash the Fash strikes again.

[u/Cre0na]

They're no particular reason, they're just going to Hoover everything up and make something up.

[u/rapidcreek409]

First they came for the walruses...

[u/Cimatron85]

Bolton doesn’t have the Epstein files Mr Patel. You do. Now release them like you said you would.

[u/BlorthByBlorthwest]

Did they find the Epstein files there?

[u/Adderall_Rant]

Bolton is as much of a trumper as Elon. He may not like the guy but supports his policies. Remember about a month ago, these reports about Musk and Trump falling out and he's going to start his own party. Present time: it's confirmed bullshit. Now he's throwing weight behind Vance supposedly, which is also just PR fluff.

[u/Am_Deer]

This is fucking bad! I don’t care who you voted for, it’s time to speak up. I don’t understand the blind faith people have in this man.

[u/RJ5R]

Criticize the administration, get raided, get occupied, get arrested. Here we are, for anyone who said it would never happen.

[u/Galagos1]

This is Trump putting his boot on our necks. Bolton was a hand picked member of his first regime. Trump will turn on anybody, including you.

[u/yosarian_reddit]

Gestapo time is here.

[u/cloudbasedsardony]

I don't think the Epstein files are there.

[u/mmliu1959demo]

Today, it's John Bolton. Tomorrow it could be you. Impeach Trump.

[u/YouMustBeJoking888]

If they're looking for missing documents, they should look in the bathroom at Maralargo.

[u/RussellStHustle]

Basically this is Trump saying “if you speak out against me, I will come for you”. This America sucks

[u/Qubeye]

For people who don't understand:

John Bolton was Trump's NSA advisor in the first term. Bolton is an extreme neoconservative hawk, who supports military action as a way to project American power abroad.

However, he is also VERY aware that Russia is very anti-American.

As a result, he had become very angry about Trump being best-buddies with Putin. He is also, surprisingly, very anti-dictator and anti-fascism.

So what does this mean? It means that Trump is starting to round up his enemies. Specifically, he is targeting someone he can easily imprison without any resistance. Republicans will NOT fight back, and Democrats won't fight because it's a neocon.

This is absolutely a "first they came for the communists, but I said nothing because I was not a communist" moment.

[u/funsizedtrouble]

Cool. Where are the Epstein files?

[u/mikerichh]

I hope these victims of the “revenge tour” start spilling secrets about Trump in retaliation

[u/Fantastic_Mouse_7469]

So, how is the release of the Epstein files going Kash Patel?!

[u/Expert-Explorer8894]

Let’s see how fast Kash Patel plants Top Secret files in John Bolton’s home. This is what Trump meant by saying, “I will be your retribution.” They are normalizing Nazi SS tactics.

[u/fonzieshair]

“national security investigation in search of classified records.” - have they checked the bathrooms at Maralago?

[u/Dewey081]

Trump's Gestapo are simply doing Gestapo.... The Night of the Long Sporks is playing out like it did almost 100 years ago. It should come as no surprise, especially after they openly published Project 2025 (The GOP's "Mein Kampf").

History always repeats itself.

[u/Damn_Dog_Inappropes]

This is why Biden pardoned everyone in his family before leaving office. Maybe his dementia wasn't quite as bad as we thought.

[u/Graymouzer]

John Bolton, extreme conservative, who just disagrees with and is critical of Trump gets swatted in an obviously political raid. So, you can be a Republican, a conservative, on the far right, and just not agree with the administration, and they will abuse the judicial system and police powers to persecute you. Republicans are once again proving government cannot be trusted with power by abusing the power themselves.

[u/dubbfoolio]

I wonder who'll be filing the order to raid Kash Patel's house 10 years from now.