The FBI arrived at the Maryland home of former national security adviser John Bolton Friday morning in an apparent search of his property, according to multiple reports.
The FBI’s search of his home is part of a “national security investigation in search of classified records,” according to CNBC. The New York Post, which first reported the search, said it was part of an investigation ordered by FBI Director Kash Patel. When asked about FBI operations at Bolton’s address, the bureau’s Baltimore field office said “the FBI is conducting court authorized activity in the area. There is no threat to public safety. We have no further comment.”
Around the same time as reports surfaced of the search, Patel posted, “NO ONE is above the law… @FBI agents on mission.”
Local Montgomery County Police confirmed that their presence was in support of FBI actions near the private home address of Bolton, Lawfare reporter Benjamin Wittes, who livestreamed the police presence, reported.
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Bolton, who served as national security adviser for part of President Donald Trump’s first administration, is a frequent public critic of Trump. In an interview with NOTUS before the recent Alaska summit, Bolton questioned the president’s preparedness for the high-stakes meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, alleging that Trump “wouldn’t read” many of the intelligence materials prepared for him.
Trump has repeatedly attacked Bolton for his published writings on the administration. The president also removed Bolton’s security clearance in January.
Trump told reporters Friday morning that he saw the raid on TV and is “not a fan” of Bolton, calling him “sort of a lowlife.”
“He’s not a smart guy. But he could be a very unpatriotic guy — I mean, we’re going to find out,” Trump said. “I know nothing about it. I just saw it this morning, they did a raid.”
The president said he expects to be briefed on the matter later in the day. He said he generally tells Attorney General Pam Bondi and her team that he doesn’t “want to know” about enforcement actions.
“I don’t want to know about it, it’s not necessary,” he said. “I could know about it — I could be the one starting it, I’m actually the chief law enforcement officer — but I feel that it’s better this way.”
The Justice Department previously opened an investigation into Bolton for allegedly including classified materials in his 2020 book. That investigation was closed under former President Joe Biden. The Trump administration has since escalated probes into alleged leaks of classified information.
The move comes just days after Tulsi Gabbard, the director of national intelligence, publicly suspended the clearance of close to a dozen intelligence professionals involved with impeachment proceedings during Trump’s first term. Multiple individuals from that list were walked out of their workplaces after Gabbard posted the memorandum on X.
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