Exploration of the stormy, prolonged partnership between Donald Trump and John Bolton

John Bolton, a former top adviser to President Donald Trump, found himself at the centre of a new controversy this week, as FBI agents searched his home in Maryland and office in Washington, D.C. The search is related to allegations that Bolton is in possession of classified records.

The searches came as a surprise to Bolton, who claimed he did not know about them beforehand. The allegations stem from the claim that Bolton may have improperly handled sensitive classified documents, sharing them with his family during his time as National Security Adviser.

Bolton's relationship with Trump has been rocky for years, with recent clashes over Bolton's criticism of Trump's summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin. In an interview, Bolton stated that he does not think Trump is fit for office and lacks the competence to carry out the job.

On Aug. 10, Bolton appeared on ABC's "This Week" and criticized Trump's decision to invite Putin to Alaska for discussions about the Russia-Ukraine war. He also discussed what has been characterized as Trump's retribution efforts and expressed concern about being a target.

The Trump administration sued Bolton in 2020 to block the release of his memoir, claiming it contained classified information that could potentially harm national security. A federal judge denied the administration's attempt to block the book's release, but the administration continued a civil suit against Bolton seeking the proceeds.

In his memoir, Bolton characterized Trump as "stunningly uninformed" and easily manipulated by foreign adversaries. Trump responded to Bolton's criticism on social media, calling it "unfair media coverage" and referring to Bolton as "a very dumb person."

Vice President JD Vance, in an interview with NBC's "Meet the Press with Kristen Welker," stated that the FBI search of Bolton's property on Friday was not politically motivated. Vance also stated that the law enforcement agencies under the current administration will be driven by law and not by politics.

Bolton departed the first Trump administration in 2019 after long-simmering tensions with Trump. In January 2021, Trump revoked Bolton's security clearance and canceled his security detail despite ongoing threats from Iran. Bolton stated that he believes the Trump administration is a "retribution presidency."

This latest development in the saga between Bolton and Trump is sure to generate headlines and fuel speculation for weeks to come. As the investigation continues, it remains to be seen what, if any, consequences Bolton will face for his handling of classified documents.

Exploration of the stormy, prolonged partnership between Donald Trump and John Bolton