In a development that has raised eyebrows in Washington, high-ranking FBI officials have called for criminal charges against John Bolton, President Trump's former National Security Adviser.
The allegations center around Bolton's purported use of a private server to email highly sensitive classified materials. This case, which has been dormant under the Biden administration, has now resurfaced, prompting questions about the motivations behind its shelving.
According to The New York Post, federal agents conducted a raid on Bolton's Maryland residence and his Washington, D.C. office in pursuit of evidence related to the alleged theft of national security documents. The investigation, which began in 2020, was initiated after intelligence suggested that Bolton had "transferred" classified documents to his family members from his White House office.
This revelation came shortly before President Trump dismissed him in September 2019. The case is distinct from another investigation concerning Bolton's 2020 book, "The Room Where it Happened," which also faced scrutiny for potentially containing national security secrets.
The decision by the Biden administration to halt further pursuit of the case has sparked speculation about political motivations. A senior FBI official remarked, "The [Biden administration] had probable cause to know that he had taken material that was detrimental to the national security of the United States, and they made no effort to retrieve it."
This statement underscores the belief among some that Bolton's critical stance against President Trump in the media may have influenced the administration's decision to let the matter rest.
The notion that Bolton received favorable treatment due to his outspoken criticism of President Trump has been a point of contention. An official alleged, "That was a friendly administration to [Bolton.] They kept bashing [Trump] the entire time for weaponizing law enforcement, and they by politically stopping a righteous investigation are the ones who weaponized law enforcement."
This accusation highlights the perceived double standard in the handling of the case.
The investigation, described by some as "air-tight," was so deeply buried that FBI Director Kash Patel only became aware of it a month after his confirmation in February. Upon requesting a briefing on sensitive cases, Patel discovered that the Bolton case was not related to the previous investigation into his book but was an entirely new matter that had been stymied by the current administration.
The recent raid aimed to uncover further evidence of Bolton's alleged misconduct. Federal agents reportedly found "a lot" of potential evidence at his home and "a bunch" from his D.C. office. While investigators are confident in their case against Bolton, the Justice Department has indicated that it does not plan to pursue charges against his wife and daughter.
As the case unfolds, it raises significant questions about the intersection of politics and law enforcement, particularly in the context of national security. The implications of this investigation could have far-reaching consequences, not only for Bolton but also for the broader discourse on the politicization of justice.
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