Trump trade adviser Peter Navarro has openly criticized John Bolton for allegedly profiteering from sensitive U.S. secrets following the FBI’s recent search of Bolton’s home in connection with a classified document probe. The accusation comes as the former national security advisor faces scrutiny over potential leaks of confidential information.
Navarro, a former Trump administration trade adviser who also served during Trump’s first term, described Bolton as a ‘loose cannon,’ citing his frequent push for military solutions and coups. Navarro, who previously served in the Trump administration, accused Bolton of using his position to disclose Oval Office conversations and national security strategies, particularly concerning Venezuela and Ukraine, for personal gain. Navarro emphasized that such actions violate executive privilege and could lead to legal consequences, including potential incarceration.
Navarro’s criticism echoes concerns raised by Democrats, who previously accused Bolton of withholding information during the first Trump impeachment inquiry over Ukraine and now face allegations of breaching national security protocols by publishing a memoir that reportedly contained leaked information. The FBI executed a search warrant on Bolton’s home and office, reportedly linked to the classified document probe, highlighting the seriousness of the allegations.
In June 2020, Judge Royce Lamberth found Bolton had ‘likely jeopardized national security by disclosing classified information in violation of his nondisclosure agreement obligations.’ He’d submitted the 500-page manuscript for a national security review, but when the review wasn’t completed in four months, he ‘pulled the plug on the process and sent the still-under-review manuscript to the publisher for printing,’ according to the judge. Lamberth allowed the book to hit the shelves because ‘the horse is already out of the barn‘ – the book’s excerpts had already been leaked and 200,000 copies had been shipped.
Navarro noted that Bolton had described confidential U.S. deliberations on how to fracture Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro’s control and prompt military defections. ‘That kind of blueprint isn’t something you hand to the public — or to Maduro’s intelligence services,’ Navarro stated. He argued that disclosing national defense information without authorization could violate U.S. code, potentially leading to legal action.
Navarro spent four months in prison last year after being convicted of contempt of Congress for defying subpoenas from the House select committee investigating the January 6 Capitol attack. The political fallout from the FBI raid and the allegations of profiteering have intensified, with Democrats accusing Bolton of double standards for withholding information during the Trump impeachment inquiry, only to later release it in his memoir. The situation underscores the ongoing tensions between national security and political accountability in the Trump administration.
Fox News Digital has reached out to a spokesperson for Bolton for comment, highlighting the ongoing nature of the controversy. As the probe continues, the implications for Bolton’s legal and political future remain uncertain, with Navarro warning of potential prison time if evidence is found and indictments are made. The accusations highlight the complex interplay between political loyalty, national security, and personal gain within the Trump administration.