In a surprise FBI agents raided the Washington DC residence of former Donald Trump national security advisor John Bolton on Friday as part of a documents-related investigation.
(** Bolton’s book 'The Room Where It Happened' had accused Donald Trump of asking China to help secure his re-election.)
The operation took place in the morning hours at Bolton’s home in Bethesda, Maryland, and was carried out under orders from FBI Director Kash Patel.
FBI director says ‘no one is above the law’ amid raid on John Bolton’s home
The FBI director, Kash Patel, posted a cryptic message on X on Friday morning, saying:
“NO ONE is above the law… @FBI agents on mission.”
US vice-president, J D Vance reposted Patel’s message, as did Dan Bongino, the deputy director of the FBI.
Bongino added: “Public corruption will not be tolerated.”
No details have been released of any allegations underlying the federal court warrant that would have been needed to conduct such a search.
CNN reported the news, saying its reporters had observed FBI officers near Bolton’s residence in Maryland and further reporting that Bolton, when reached, said he was not aware of the law enforcement activity.
Bolton was not at home during the raid, CNN reported.
Later as the search was ongoing, Bolton could be seen standing inside the lobby of the Washington building where he keeps an office.
He was talking to two people with “FBI” visible on their vests.
Bolton served as Trump’s third national security adviser for 17 months and clashed with him over Iran, Afghanistan and North Korea. The first Trump administration had unsuccessfully sought to block the publication of a Bolton book that it said contained classified information.
After a judge ruled, in June 2020, that the book could be published, Trump said Bolton “must pay a very big price for this, as others have before him”.
Bolton was not detained or charged with any crimes during the raid, the Associated Press said.
On his first day back in office this year, Trump, a Republican, revoked the security clearances of more than four dozen former intelligence officials, including Bolton. Bolton was also among a trio of former Trump officials whose security details were canceled by Trump earlier this year.
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