FBI Investigates John Bolton Amid Classified Document Allegations

John Bolton, who has criticized former President Trump since leaving the administration, is under investigation by the FBI for his possible mishandling of classified information, though no charges have been filed as yet.

FBI agents conducted searches at the home and office of John Bolton, former national security adviser to Donald Trump, on Friday as part of an investigation into the alleged mishandling of classified information. Bolton, a prominent critic of Trump since his departure from the administration in 2019, was previously accused of misusing classified material in his memoir detailing his experiences in the Trump White House.

Sources have indicated to CBS News that the investigation pertains partly to classified documents, although the FBI has not provided detailed comments about the ongoing probe. According to reports, Bolton has not been detained, and no charges have currently been filed against him.

In a press interaction, Trump avoided commenting directly on the investigation but described Bolton as a "sleazebag." He claimed he had not ordered the searches that took place at Bolton's residence in Bethesda, Maryland. Vice President JD Vance, in an NBC interview, confirmed that classified documents are a key part of the investigation. He emphasized that the FBI's actions would depend on whether Bolton is found to have broken the law, asserting that the investigation is free of political motivations, contrasting claims made by some Democratic politicians.

Outside Bolton's home on Friday, law enforcement and FBI personnel were observed and seen carrying boxes into the property. A spokesperson for the FBI confirmed that they were engaged in "authorized activity" in the area and also conducted a search of Bolton’s Washington, D.C. office.

Bolton's memoir, "The Room Where it Happened," written in 2020, is notably critical of Trump, asserting that "a mountain of facts demonstrates that Trump is unfit to be president." Previously, the Justice Department accused Bolton of a "flagrant breach" of his obligations regarding classified information; however, that lawsuit was dropped in mid-2021 amid Joe Biden’s presidency.

As the investigation unfolded, FBI Director Kash Patel remarked that "no one is above the law" in a post, which Attorney General Pam Bondi later endorsed, emphasizing that "America's safety isn't negotiable" and that justice would be sought diligently.

Bolton, who previously served as the U.N. ambassador under George W. Bush, had his Secret Service protection revoked by the Trump administration early in 2021 after tensions arose over the former adviser's public criticisms. He has additionally raised concerns regarding the administration’s strategies relating to the ongoing conflict between Ukraine and Russia.