WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump is demanding that the U.S. Department of Justice pay him about $230 million in compensation for federal investigations against him, according to sources familiar with the matter, who added that any settlement could be approved by senior department officials who defended him or are in his circle.
The situation has no parallel in American history, as Trump, then a presidential candidate, was the target of federal investigations and ended up winning the election, taking on the government itself that must now analyze his claims. It is also the clearest example yet of the potential ethical conflicts generated by the appointment of the president’s former lawyers to leadership roles at the Justice Department.
Trump filed complaints through an administrative process that usually precedes lawsuits. The first complaint, filed in late 2023, seeks damages for several alleged violations of his rights, including the FBI and special counsel’s investigation into Russian election interference and possible connections to Trump’s 2016 campaign, according to sources familiar with the case. They spoke on condition of anonymity because the complaint has not been made public.
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The second complaint, filed in the summer of 2024, accuses the FBI of violating Trump’s privacy by searching Mar-a-Lago, his club and Florida residence in 2022 for confidential documents. He also accuses the Justice Department of malicious prosecution by accusing him of mishandling sensitive documents after leaving office.
Lawyers say the nature of the complaints presents undeniable ethical challenges.
Administrative complaints are not technically legal proceedings. These complaints are first submitted to the Department of Justice through what is called Standard Form 95 to see if a settlement can be reached without the need for federal court action. If the department formally rejects the complaint or refuses to take action, the person can then sue in court. Still, that outcome is unlikely in this case, given that Trump is already negotiating, in essence, with his subordinates.
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Compensation is typically paid for by taxpayers. Two sources familiar with the president’s legal claims said he has not yet received payment from the federal government but expects to be compensated.
The second complaint accuses Merrick Garland, then attorney general; Christopher Wray, then director of the FBI; and Jack Smith, the special prosecutor investigating Trump at the time, of “harassment” with the intent to influence the election outcome.
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