FBI Investigates Former National Security Advisor John Bolton Over Handling of Classified Information
WASHINGTON D.C. - Federal investigators have reportedly searched the Bethesda,Maryland home and Washington D.C. office of john Bolton, former National Security Advisor to President Donald Trump, as part of an examination into the handling of classified information. The searches occured at the end of August, according to sources familiar with the matter.
Bolton, a prominent figure in the first Trump governance, previously served as U.S.Ambassador to the United Nations under President George W. Bush from 2001-2009. He then became Trump’s third National Security Advisor, holding the position for 17 months.Known as a neoconservative and a strong advocate for assertive foreign policy, Bolton frequently found himself at odds with Trump on key geopolitical issues, including approaches to North Korea, Afghanistan, and Iraq.
The investigation centers on a memoir Bolton published in 2020, The Room Where It Happened, detailing his time in the white House. The Trump administration attempted to block the book’s publication, alleging it contained classified material. A court ultimately permitted its release despite the administration’s efforts.
The scrutiny of Bolton comes as Trump, back in power, has initiated legal actions against individuals he believes acted against him during his first term or 2020 campaign. In September, former FBI Director James Comey was charged with obstruction of justice and lying to Congress, following a message from Trump to his Secretary of Justice, Pam Bondi.
Recent legal challenges have also targeted New York prosecutor Letitia James,who faced accusations of mortgage fraud in a civil case concerning the Trump family business. While a Manhattan judge initially ordered the Trump Association to pay $454 million in fines and restricted the involvement of Donald Trump Jr. and Eric Trump in the business for two years, an appeals court overturned that decision in August.
Adding to the situation, on January 20th, the day of his inauguration for a second term, Trump revoked the security clearances of nearly 50 former senior officials from his administration, including Bolton. He also ordered the removal of Bolton’s security detail, despite Bolton having received death threats from Iran.