Vance denies that Bolton investigation stems from Trump criticism

Vice President JD Vance denied that the administration's investigation of John Bolton was retribution for his criticism of Trump.

Vice President JD Vance on Friday confirmed that President Donald Trump's administration is "in the very early stages of an ongoing investigation" into former national security adviser John Bolton, but he denied that the investigation was retribution for Bolton's criticism of Trump.

Vance's comments came after the FBI executed a search warrant on Bolton's Maryland home on Friday morning.

"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," Vance told NBC News' "Meet the Press" moderator Kristen Welker in an exclusive interview.

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

Vance declined to comment on the specifics of the investigation and on whether Bolton would face federal charges, but he confirmed earlier reporting that the case centers around the storage of classified documents.