On Friday, while federal agents were raiding the Washington, D.C. residence of former U.S. National Security Advisor John Bolton, FBI Director Kash Patel wrote a brief remark on the social media platform X.
Without mentioning anyone’s name or giving any details, he wrote a single sentence: “No one is above the law.” A plain truth. That is how it should be. But it was clear to everyone that he was referring to Bolton, who has recently clashed with the U.S. administration.
Undoubtedly, the law is one of the key safeguards of civic life in any society. Yet the question remains—does it always work out that way in practice? Observing reality, one may recall the philosopher Bion’s remark: “Judge me not by appearances but by understanding and knowledge.” Or perhaps the words of former British Prime Minister Arthur James Balfour: “There is no greater tyranny than that which is perpetrated under the shield of law.”
It is worth noting that Bolton was once close to President Donald Trump himself! From 2018 to 2019, he served as Trump’s National Security Advisor. In 2020, he faced accusations of using classified information in a book he authored.
Trump tried to block its publication, claiming it was a violation of confidentiality agreements. After that, Bolton entered into open conflict with Trump and, upon leaving the administration, became a sharp critic of Trump’s national security and foreign policies. Recently, after criticizing Trump’s tariff decisions, the FBI raided Bolton’s house.
The phrase “No one is above the law” is heard widely across nations. But in the developing world, its use seems deeply entrenched. It is as if only those in power can sweetly utter the phrase, while also applying it selectively—often targeting a particular side. On the other hand, those outside power, or those who fall out of favor with the ruling elite, find the law turning sharp and disproportionately applied against them.
This is why philosophers like Democritus have observed: “Law is, by nature, the ally of the powerful.” In practice, it resembles a mousetrap—easy to fall into, but not easy to escape. Rabindranath Tagore explained it well: “The thing that emerges from documents and testimony mixed with a lawyer’s interpretation cannot be considered proof. For the lawyer on the other side can use the very same documents to argue the opposite. The reason is that the special meaning of selective words depends entirely on how they are chosen.” The entanglements of law are indeed difficult!
Maxim Gorky also recognized this, saying: “Every new era gives birth to its own laws.” There can be no doubt that when a ruling class ascends to power, the “lawful” declarations it makes often turn out to be ruthless for many. This trend is especially sharp in developing nations.
In such societies, the ruling elite frequently speak of the rule of law, and their words sound sweet indeed. Yet once they fall from power, those very legal discourses become a source of terror for them.
This culture of selective enforcement functions like a cycle. As a result, the phrase “No one is above the law” has settled in the public mind as a primary weapon of those in power.