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Topics: Donald Trump, US News, Politics
Callum Jones
Topics: Donald Trump, US News, Politics
Donald Trump has given his thoughts following reports that his former national security adviser has had his home raided by the FBI.
John Bolton served as Trump's top security adviser for 17 months during his first term in the White House in 2017. However, he was forced out of the role in 2019 and was not involved in his unsuccessful election campaign in 2020.
The FBI searched Bolton's house in Bethesda, Maryland, on Friday (August 22) as part of a 'national security investigation in search of classified records', according to NBC News.
Photos of the scene have been posted online, showing multiple police cars in the Washington, D.C., suburb. Earlier on Friday, FBI Director Kash Patel penned on Twitter: "NO ONE is above the law… @FBI agents on mission."
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Bolton has not been detained or apprehended following the search.
An FBI official said in a statement that they were 'conducting court-authorised activity in the area', which, according to Sky News, indicates that a search warrant to check the grounds was secured.
It remains unclear at this time why the raid has taken place, however. Bolton, who was reportedly seen talking to FBI officials in his Washington office on Friday - is also yet to comment on the raid (via Associated Press).
Trump was asked about the raid while on a visit to the White House Museum, where he admitted he's 'not a fan of John Bolton'.
"I knew nothing about it, I just saw it this morning that they did a raid," he told reporters in the capital.
The Republican president went on to say he will probably be briefed by the Department of Justice 'probably sometime today', despite seemingly not having any interest in the matter.
Trump added: "I don't want to know about it, it's not necessary. He [Bolton] could be very unpatriotic, we're going to find out."
Sources have told the New York Times that an investigation has been launched into whether the former advisor illegally shared or possessed classified information.
Meanwhile, NBC News says the FBI is looking into instances of documents being leaked to journalists.
It comes as the president continues to speak with leaders across the globe to bring an end to the war in Ukraine.
Trump has been mediating between the two countries and met with Vladimir Putin for the first time in years last week to discuss how the war can be ended.
Then, just a few days later, Volodymyr Zelenskyy jetted to the White House to also meet with Trump alongside numerous other European leaders.