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The FBI is searching the Maryland home of John Bolton, who served in Donald Trump’s first administration as national security adviser but later became critical of the president, as part of an investigation into the handling of classified information, a person familiar with the matter said on Friday.
Bolton was not detained and has not been charged with any crimes, said the person, who was not authorised to discuss the investigation by name and spoke to the AP news agency on the condition of anonymity.
A lawyer who has represented Bolton had no immediate comment.
The Justice Department also had no comment, but leaders appeared to cryptically refer to the search of Bolton’s home in a series of social media posts Friday morning.
FBI Director Kash Patel, who in a 2023 book he wrote included Bolton in a list of “members of the Executive Branch Deep State,” posted on X: “NO ONE is above the law… @FBI agents on mission.”
Attorney General Pam Bondi shared his post, adding: “America’s safety isn’t negotiable. Justice will be pursued. Always.”
The search of Bolton’s home comes as the Trump administration has taken steps to examine the activities of other perceived adversaries of the Republican president, including by authorising a grand jury investigation into the origins of the Trump-Russia probe.
Officials are also conducting mortgage fraud investigations into Democratic Senator Adam Schiff of California and New York Attorney General Letitia James, who brought a civil fraud lawsuit against Trump and his company.
Former Trump prosecutor Jack Smith also faces an investigation from an independent watchdog office. Schiff and James have vigorously denied any wrongdoing through their lawyers.
In an ABC interview earlier this month, Bolton was asked about whether he was worried about the Trump administration taking action against him.
Bolton said Trump had “already come after” him by taking away his security detail, adding “I think it is a retribution presidency.”
On his first day back in office this year, Trump revoked the security clearances of more than four dozen former intelligence officials, including Bolton. Bolton was among 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 and clashed with him over Iran, Afghanistan and North Korea.
He faced scrutiny during the first Trump administration over a book he wrote about his time in government that officials argued disclosed classified information, but the Justice Department in 2021 abandoned its lawsuit and dropped a separate grand jury investigation.
Bolton’s lawyers have said he moved forward with the book after a White House National Security Council official, with whom Bolton had worked for months, said the manuscript no longer contained classified information.
Bolton served as US ambassador to the United Nations under President George W. Bush and also held positions in President Ronald Reagan’s administration.
He had considered running for president in 2012 and 2016.
Additional sources • AP
