Donald Trump is demanding the U.S. Justice Department pay him approximately $230 million to settle legal costs stemming from past federal investigations, claiming the probes were politically motivated “witch hunts.”
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!The Administrative Claims
Trump’s legal team filed two administrative claims with the DOJ—a step taken before filing a formal lawsuit—seeking compensation for alleged violations of his rights:
- Late 2023 Claim: Targets the investigations by the FBI and Special Counsel into alleged Russian interference in the 2016 election.
- Mid-2024 Claim: Focuses on the Mar-a-Lago classified documents case, accusing the FBI of violating his privacy during the search and the DOJ of “malicious prosecution.”
The Current Conflict and Ethics Concerns
The situation is unprecedented because Trump now oversees the very department he is demanding compensation from.
- Trump’s Stance: He stated he is not directly involved in the request but believes the DOJ “would owe me a lot of money.” He pledged to donate any awarded money to charity.
- Decision Makers: The claims are now being reviewed by a Justice Department whose senior officials, including Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche, previously served as Trump’s defense lawyers.
- DOJ Response: A spokesman for the Justice Department affirmed that “all officials at the Department of Justice follow the guidance of career ethics officials” when reviewing such claims.
If the DOJ does not settle the administrative claims, Trump remains eligible to file a civil lawsuit.
Is there a particular aspect of the story you’d like me to focus on, such as the ethics debate or the basis of the claims?
