Former DHS official signals he could be next after Bolton FBI raid: ‘We expect it’

Miles Taylor, a former Department of Homeland Security (DHS) official, signaled Saturday that he could be the next target of President Trump’s FBI after ex-national security adviser John Bolton’s Washington-area home was raided by agents early Friday.

Taylor, who served as a deputy chief of staff at DHS under Trump’s first term, was asked by MSNBC’s Jonathan Capehart about the raid and whether he is concerned about the administration’s next moves.

“Yeah, we expect it. I mean, really, we expect it,” he told Capehart. “And that’s what is so surreal about this is we can all hear as we’re talking about this, be so certain of the president’s revenge campaign to know potentially who that next target might be or one of those next targets.”

The former DHS aide added, “I mean when my wife and I woke up and saw the news, she basically said to me, ‘It’s coming.'”

The FBI confirmed Friday that “court-authorized law enforcement activity” was conducted in the area of Bolton’s home in Bethesda, Md. The search was reportedly related to his handling of classified information.

The search of Bolton’s home and office marked an escalation in the feud between Trump and his former national security adviser, with critics seeing it as a potential act of retribution.

Taylor, who previously suggested the president kept a “blacklist” for persecution, said as much in his appearance Saturday on MSNBC’s “The Weekend.”

“Folks don’t have to play the violin for John Bolton or Miles Taylor. Maybe they don’t like either of us. That’s fine, because it’s not about us,” he told the panel. “It’s about the criminal justice system that all Americans expect to be able to treat them fairly.”

“It’s a president of the U.S. weaponizing the tools of his office to reshape our society. And he’s doing that. He’s making sure the scales of justice tip in his favor,” he continued, adding later, “There’s no telling where this could go next.”

Trump told reporters at the White House on Friday that he was not told ahead of time about the raid but expected to be briefed later. Bolton has often criticized his former boss over foreign policy decisions. He was also a witness during the president’s first impeachment probe.

Vice President Vance defended the FBI’s moves in an appearance on NBC’s “Meet the Press,” which will air Sunday, pushing back on allegations that the raid is related to retribution.

Bolton has thus far not commented on the raid.