Donald Trump has offered a sharp response following reports from US media indicating that the FBI has conducted a raid on the home of his former national security adviser.
John Bolton, who has become a vocal critic of Trump, served as his top security adviser for 17 months during Trump’s initial term in office.
In 2019, Bolton was ousted from his position and did not participate in Trump’s 2020 election campaign, which ended unsuccessfully.
According to NBC News, the FBI conducted a search of Bolton’s residence in Bethesda, Maryland, on Friday, August 22, as part of a ‘national security investigation in search of classified records’.
Images from the scene have surfaced online, depicting several police vehicles present in the suburb of Washington DC.
Although the search was carried out, Bolton has not been detained. FBI Director Kash Patel commented on Twitter: “NO ONE is above the law… @FBI agents on mission.”
The reasons for the raid have not been disclosed at this time.
While visiting the White House Museum on Friday, Trump was questioned about the raid. He acknowledged that he is “not a fan of John Bolton.”
“I knew nothing about it, I just saw it this morning that they did a raid,” he remarked to reporters in Washington.
The President mentioned that he expects to be briefed by the Department of Justice “probably sometime today,” although he expressed disinterest in the situation.
Trump further stated: “I don’t want to know about it, it’s not necessary. He [Bolton] could be very unpatriotic, we’re going to find out.”
Bolton has not yet made a public statement regarding the raid.
According to sources cited by the New York Times, an investigation is underway to determine if Bolton illegally shared or held classified information. NBC News indicates that the FBI is investigating potential leaks of documents to the press.
Previously, Trump accused Bolton of misusing classified information in Bolton’s 2020 book, “The Room Where It Happened.”
Meanwhile, Trump continues his diplomatic efforts with global leaders to resolve the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
Acting as a mediator between the warring nations, Trump recently met with Vladimir Putin for the first time in years to discuss potential resolutions. Shortly after, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy visited the White House to meet with Trump and various European leaders.
Recent reports suggest Putin’s conditions include Ukraine abandoning its NATO membership ambitions, no Western military presence on Russian soil, and a complete withdrawal from the contested parts of Donbas controlled by Russia.
In exchange for relinquishing Donbas, Moscow would agree to halt advances in Zaporizhzhia and Kherson, as reported by Reuters.