JD Vance denies probe into John Bolton is retribution for his past criticism of Trump

WASHINGTON, DC: Vice President JD Vance on Friday, August 22, confirmed that President Donald Trump's administration is "in the very early stages of an ongoing investigation" into former national security adviser John Bolton.

Vance rejected the suggestion that the case was retribution for Bolton’s past criticism of Trump, instead pointing to legal concerns over classified materials.

JD Vance opens up about investigation into John Bolton

JD Vance spoke after FBI agents executed a search warrant on John Bolton’s Maryland home early Friday morning.

He told NBC News, “We’re in the very early stages of an ongoing investigation into John Bolton. I will say we’re going to let that investigation proceed.”

“We are investigating Amb. Bolton, but if they ultimately bring a case, it will be because they determine that he has broken the law,” the vice president added.

“We’re going to be careful about that. We’re going to be deliberate about that, because we don’t think that we should throw people — even if they disagree with us politically, maybe especially if they disagree with us politically — you shouldn’t throw people willy-nilly in prison. You should let the law drive these determinations, and that’s what we’re doing,” further said Vance.

JD Vance says focus is on law and not politics in John Bolton probe

While declining to discuss the specifics of the investigation, JD Vance confirmed that the case centers around classified documents.

“I’ll let the FBI speak to that. Classified documents are certainly part of it, but I think that there’s a broad concern about Ambassador Bolton. They’re going to look into it,” he said.

“And like I said, if there’s no crime here, we’re not going to prosecute it. If there is a crime here, of course, Amb. Bolton will get his day in court. That’s how it should be. But again, our focus here is on, did he break the law? Did he commit crimes against the American people? If so, then he deserves to be prosecuted,” Vance added.

The vice president said he doubted Bolton had been detained but could not confirm it.

“I haven’t talked to the FBI this morning. I don’t know the answer to that question. I assume that he hasn’t been detained and won’t be detained until there’s an actual prosecution, if that actually happens,” Vance stated.

When pressed about whether the probe was driven by retribution, the 41-year-old repeatedly denied it and said, "I suspect that if the media and the American people let this case actually unfold, if they let the investigation unfold, as it’s currently doing, they’re going to find out that what we’re doing is being very deliberate and being very driven by the national interest, and by the law here and that’s as it should be."

Internet divided over JD Vance's remarks about John Bolton probe

The FBI searched John Bolton’s home around 7 am on Friday. The probe is examining the storage of classified files and whether some were leaked to the press, as per multiple reports.

Bolton served as Trump’s national security adviser for about a year and a half before they parted ways in 2019 following disputes over foreign policy. He later became a sharp critic of Trump, claiming in a 2020 book that the president often made decisions based on his reelection prospects.

Reactions online were divided about Vance's remarks.

One wrote, “JD Vance’s phrasing, ‘broad concern’ and ‘if we think he committed a crime,’ is deliberately vague. It maintains plausible deniability about political motives,” and another said, “He stole highly sensitive classified secrets. Lock him up.”

A person questioned, “Is ‘IF’ sufficient probable cause for a warrant? Don’t they need to have credible suspicions?”

Others dismissed the case, with one writing, “They will find nothing Bolton will sue.”

“Bolton was a vocal critic of Trump. This is solely revenge and to intimidate others from speaking out. (also Bolton didn’t say thank you),” one more tweet read. 

A person bluntly wrote, "We don’t know if he committed a crime, but we’re trying to find one. There you have it. We are no longer a democracy."

A Trump supporter claimed, "Bolton stole and leaked classified information a clear violation of the Espionage Act. He's going to prison for a long time."

This article contains remarks made on the Internet by individual people and organizations. MEAWW cannot confirm them independently and does not support claims or opinions being made online.