It’s published
The FBI is searching John Bolton’s Maryland home, who served in Donald Trump’s first administration as a national security adviser, as part of an investigation into how confidential information is handled, a well-versed person familiar with the matter said Friday.
Bolton was not in custody and has not been charged with a crime, he was not permitted to discuss the investigation by name, and the person who spoke to the Associated Press on conditions of anonymity said.
The lawyer representing Bolton did not immediately comment.
The Justice Department also had no comment, but leaders appeared to deliberately refer to the exploration of the Bolton home in a series of social media posts Friday morning.
FBI Director Kash Patel posted on X in his 2023 book, including Bolton on his list of “Executive Branch Deep State Members.”
Attorney General Pam Bondy shared his post, adding, “American security cannot be negotiated. Justice is pursued. It is always pursued.”
The search for Bolton’s home comes as the Trump administration took steps to investigate the activities of other perceived enemies of the Republican president, including allowing a major ju judge to investigate the origins of the Trump Russian investigation.
Authorities are also conducting mortgage fraud investigations against California Democrat Sen. Adam Schiff and New York Attorney General Letitia James, which have filed civil fraud lawsuits against Trump and his company.
Former Trump prosecutor Jack Smith is also facing investigations from an independent watchdog office. Schiff and James vehemently deny the misconduct through their lawyers.
In an ABC interview earlier this month, Bolton was asked whether he was worried about the Trump administration taking action against him.
Bolton said Trump “already chased after him” by stealing security details, adding, “I think it’s a retaliatory president.”
On his first day in office this year, Trump revoked security clearances for more than four dozen former Intelligence Directors, including Bolton. Bolton was one of a group of former Trump officials whose security details were cancelled earlier this year.
Bolton served as Trump’s third national security adviser for 17 months, clashing with him through Iran, Afghanistan and North Korea.
He faced scrutiny during the first Trump administration over a book he wrote about his time in the government that authorities allegedly revealed classified information, but in 2021 the Justice Department waived the lawsuit and stopped investigating another large ju court.
Bolton’s lawyers said he moved the book forward after an official on the White House National Security Council where Bolton worked for months, and the manuscript no longer contains classification information.
Bolton served as the United Nations US ambassador under President George W. Bush and established himself in President Ronald Reagan’s administration.
He was considering running for president in 2012 and 2016.
Additional sources •AP
