On Friday, FBI agents searched the home and office locations of a former National Security Advisor in President Trump’s first term for evidence of classified files. “We have reason to believe that Mr. Bolton has in his possession certain files with Top Secret classifications,” said Special Agent Ron McDonald. “If he has them, we want them.”
Possession of such files is a federal crime with prison sentences of 5 to 10 years and disqualification from holding public office. Bolton was not resident during the searches and could not be reached for comment.
President Trump posted on his Truth Social media site at 2:10 A.M. that “Bolton will be found and captured! He took those files during meetings with me at Mar-a-Lago three years ago. I want my files back!”
The implied timing raises the legal issue of Trump’s possession at Mar-a-Lago. However, that issue has been made moot after Trump-appointed Judge Aileen Cannon’s lengthy delays, legally criticized diversions, and final ruling dismissing all charges. Special Counsel Jack Smith abandoned his appeal once it became clear Trump would be the Republican candidate in the 2024 presidential election.
“THROW THAT TRAITOR IN JAIL!!” Trump wrote in a subsequent post. “THEY’RE MY FILES!”