Topline
Agents from the Federal Bureau of Investigation raided the home of former National Security Advisor John Bolton—who served during President Donald Trump’s first administration but has since become critical of the president—in Bethesda, Maryland, early on Friday, according to reports, as FBI Director Kash Patel made a cryptic social media post about no one being above the law.
Former National security adviser John Bolton served in the White House during a part of Trump’s first term, but he has since become a vocal critic of the president.
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Key Facts
According to the New York Post, which first reported the purported raid, Bolton was being targeted as part of a high-profile national security probe.
Reports of the raid were also confirmed by CNN, which also reported that Bolton was “unaware of the FBI activity” at his Bethesda, Maryland, residence, and he is looking into it further.
Sources cited by The New York Times said the investigation into Bolton concerns “whether he illegally shared or possessed classified information,” with ABC News reporting a federal magistrate judge in Maryland signed off on the search.
While the agency has not issued a statement, FBI Director Kash Patel made a cryptic post on X, saying: “NO ONE is above the law…FBI agents on mission.”
Bolton has not yet publicly responded to the probe but had been posting on social media as the search of his home reportedly began, writing at 7:30 a.m. EDT about Trump’s effort to facilitate talks between Russia and Ukraine and saying, “Meetings will continue because Trump wants a Nobel Peace Prize, but I don’t see these talks making any progress.”
What To Watch For
The search at Bolton’s home is likely to take at least a few more hours, CNN projected, and it’s unclear how any probe into the former national security advisor will play out from here. It’s also unclear when any court documents regarding the government’s search warrant may be unsealed, which would reveal more information about the reasoning behind going into Bolton’s home.
Surprising Fact
The probe into Bolton comes just a few weeks after the former national security advisor was asked on ABC News about the possibility that the Trump administration could seek revenge against him, given his repeated criticism of President Donald Trump. Bolton suggested the administration had already “come after me,” citing Trump pulling his security detail, and told ABC, “I think it is a retribution presidency.”
This is a developing story.