Sleuths from the Federal Bureau of Investigation are conducting searches at the residence of former National Security Advisor John Bolton as part of a national security probe. The searches come a day after Bolton lashed out at the Trump administration over high tariffs on India.
According to reports, FBI agents reached Bolton's residence in Maryland as part of a probe into handling classified documents, sources familiar with the probe told AP.
FBI Director Kash Patel, confirming the probe, tweeted, "NO ONE is above the law… @FBI agents on mission." US Attorney General Pamela Bondi also retweeted Patel's post.
Bolton, who served as US President Trump's third national security adviser, disagreed with him over Iran, Afghanistan and North Korea. Bolton served with Trump for 17 months. During Trump's first presidency, authorities failed in a bid to block the publication of a Bolton book over charges that it contained classified information.
Earlier this year, President Trump cancelled Bolton's security detail. Soon after he assumed office, US President Trump revoked the security clearances of more than four dozen former intelligence officials, including Bolton.
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The raids come a day after Bolton heavily criticised the Trump administration for imposing 50 per cent tariffs on India over its oil and defence purchases from Russia. The former Trump aide said the India-US relationship is currently in a "very bad place" and it was essential to prevent further damage. Bolton also called Trump an “aberrational president”.
Bolton pointed out that India has been singled out by Trump over New Delhi's relations with Russia. He added that while India has been penalised, no new sanctions have been imposed on Russia or China, another major exporter of Russian oil.
"Leaving India hanging out to dry as the only country to which punitive action has been taken obviously leads a lot of people to conclude that the United States has given up on India, and I do worry that India is being driven closer to Russia and China," Moneycontrol reported quoting Bolton.
