FBI Searches John Bolton's Home and Office in Classified Information Probe

The FBI conducted searches on Friday at the Maryland residence and Washington office of John Bolton, who served as National Security Adviser under President Donald Trump. These actions are part of an investigation into the potential mishandling of classified information, according to a person familiar with the matter.

Bolton, who became a vocal critic of Trump after his departure from the administration in 2019, was not detained and has not been charged with any crimes. The searches are considered a significant public step by the Justice Department against a perceived adversary of the president.

The Justice Department has not provided an official explanation for the searches. However, FBI Director Kash Patel posted on social media: "NO ONE is above the law... @FBI agents on mission." Attorney General Pam Bondi shared the post, adding: "America's safety isn't negotiable. Justice will be pursued. Always."

These developments occur amid broader efforts by the Trump administration to scrutinize activities of other critics, including authorizing a grand jury investigation into the origins of the Trump-Russia probe.

Bolton's 2020 memoir, "The Room Where It Happened," portrayed Trump as uninformed on foreign policy and driven by personal political gain. The administration attempted to block its release, citing concerns over classified content, but the Justice Department dropped its lawsuit in 2021.

As of now, Bolton has not publicly commented on the searches.