United States’ Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) agents reportedly raided the Maryland home of the former US ambassador to the United Nations and former White House national security advisor, John Bolton, early Friday morning.
This is a part of a high-profile national security probe, ANI reported, citing the New York Post.
A Trump administration official has reportedly confirmed that the raid was ordered by FBI Director Kash Patel.
“NO ONE is above the law… @FBI agents on mission,” FBI Director posted a thinly veiled message.
It comes a day after Patel revealed former FBI Director James Comey had authorised leaks of classified documents “while misleading Congress” just before the 2016 elections. According to ANI, the FBI Director also pledged to rid the federal government of corruption and expose cover-ups.
The former US NSA has been at odds with his old boss since, regularly appearing on cable news criticising the President’s national security and foreign policy.
FBI Raids On John Bolton
According to the New York Post, the FBI agents busted into Bolton’s house in Bethesda, Maryland, at 7 am. The probe is focused on Bolton’s handling of classified information, particularly in relation to his 2020 memoir, “The Room Where it Happened.”
US President Donald Trump had attempted to block this memoir due to allegations of revealing national secrets and breaching a non-disclosure agreement signed during his tenure.
However, despite Trump’s efforts, the book was published.
As per the New York Post, Bolton’s first-term Justice Department opened an inquiry into the book in September 2020.
Bolton On Trump’s Tariffs
“When Trump slapped tariffs on India for buying Russian oil, but not China, which also purchases Russia oil, it may have pushed India further into the Beijing-Moscow axis. This lack of focus by the Trump Admin is an unforced error,” Bolton had posted in a post on X.
Bolton On Trump’s Mediation Claims
The former US NSA commented on Trump’s claim of brokering a ceasefire between India and Pakistan, attributing it to Trump’s tendency to take credit for everything.
“It’s nothing personal to India. This is Donald Trump, who takes credit for everything,” Bolton told ANI.
“I think he did have a call with Prime Minister Modi, and Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio were also on the call. I’m sure other countries might also be calling to see what they can do. It’s typical of Trump because he would jump in before everyone else could take credit. It may be irritating, probably is irritating to many people, but it’s nothing against India, it’s just Trump being Trump,” Bolton had added.
Indian Armed Forces had launched Operation Sindoor on May 7, to avenge the gruesome Pahalgam terror attack in which 26 people were killed. The precision strikes targeted terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK).
Following this, the Pakistani Army launched an offensive against India, using a swarm of drones and missile strikes. After several days of military conflict, both nations agreed to a ceasefire on May 10.
