FBI Raids Home Of Trump’s Former National Security Adviser & Critic John Bolton
FBI agents raided the Maryland home of President Trump’s former National Security Adviser John Bolton early Friday in a national security probe involving classified documents.
Bolton, once a top aide in Trump’s first administration, has been an outspoken critic of the president. Weeks ago, Bolton warned that Trump’s second term was shaping up to be a “retribution presidency.”
HOW WE GOT HERE
The raid, ordered by FBI Director Kash Patel, comes after years of Bolton’s sharp criticism of Trump.
A federal magistrate judge approved the search — as a president or FBI head cannot unilaterally approve such a move.
However, the bar for a former senior White House official having classified information is likely lower than that of a person outside the administration. The court papers explaining the search may remain sealed for some time.
Bolton was not detained or charged with any crimes on Friday.
Patel and Attorney General Pam Bondi posted on X Friday, appearing to reference the raid.
Rewind: Patel included Bolton in a list of members of the “Executive Branch Deep State,” in a 2023 book he wrote. That list reportedly includes dozens of government figures deemed harmful to the Trump administration — including former Deputy National Security Adviser Charles Kupperman, retired Marine General Kenneth F. McKenzie Jr., and former Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Mark Milley.
Bolton was investigated during the first Trump administration over a book he wrote about his time in government that officials argued disclosed classified information. In the book, Bolton called Trump unfit for office. The Biden Justice Department in 2021 abandoned its lawsuit and dropped a separate grand jury investigation.
THE TRUMP OF IT
President Trump denied Friday having advance knowledge of the FBI search of Bolton’s house. But, added: “I’m not a fan of John Bolton.”
Trump told reporters the Justice Department did not to inform him of such things, but took time to criticize Bolton.
Early in Trump’s second term, he pulled Bolton’s government security despite ongoing assassination threats from Iran.