Trump Demands $230 Million in Compensation from Justice Department Over Past Investigations

US President Donald Trump stated on Tuesday that he may demand $230 million from the Justice Department (DOJ) as compensation for damages incurred from previous investigations conducted by the DOJ and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). The New York Times had reported, citing informed sources, that Trump had indeed demanded this amount.

Trump commented to CNN: "It might be that amount, I don't know the numbers. All I know is they owe me a lot of money, but I'm not looking for the money, I'll give it to charity or something like that."

A Prime Example of Ethical Conflict

The New York Times suggests the DOJ is likely to eventually agree to the settlement, given that its current top officials were previously lawyers and defenders of Trump or his close associates. The newspaper described this situation as the "most prominent example of ethical conflict of interest resulting from the appointment of the President's lawyers to senior positions within the DOJ," labeling it a case unparalleled in American history.

Trump filed administrative claims as a prerequisite for legal action should a settlement not be reached:

1. First Claim (Late 2023): Demands compensation for alleged violations of his rights, including the FBI and Special Counsel probe into Russian interference in the 2016 election and potential communications with the Trump campaign.

2. Second Claim (Summer 2024): Accuses the FBI of privacy violation following the 2022 search of his Mar-a-Lago residence in Florida for classified documents, and accuses the DOJ of "malicious prosecution" when charging him with "mishandling" sensitive records after leaving the White House.

"I'm Kind of Suing Myself"

Bennett Gershman, an ethics professor at Pace University, called Trump's claim a "farce" and an "ethical conflict."

Trump himself acknowledged the awkwardness of the case last week in the Oval Office, in the presence of Attorney General Pam Bondi and FBI Director Kash Patel, explaining: "I had a lawsuit that was going well, and when I became President I said I'm kind of suing myself, I don't know how I can settle the lawsuit. I'll say give me X amount, and I don't know what to do with the lawsuit, it looks bad. I'm suing myself."

The administrative claims filed by Trump are not lawsuits but are submitted to the DOJ to explore the possibility of a settlement without resorting to Federal Court. If the department rejects the demands, the claimant can file a lawsuit. However, the New York Times suggests the case is unlikely to reach court because Trump is negotiating a settlement with his own appointees.