U.S. President Donald Trump is demanding $230 million in damages from the Department of Justice, claiming he suffered serious harm from investigations carried out during his first term and after leaving office, according to a report by The New York Times.
Trump has filed two formal complaints through the department’s administrative claims process, alleging violations of his rights and misuse of legal authority. The first complaint focuses on the FBI’s probe into alleged ties between his 2016 presidential campaign and Russia. The second centers on the investigation into his handling of classified documents, which included an FBI search of his Mar-a-Lago property in Palm Beach, Florida.
According to documents reviewed by The Times, Trump is seeking $115 million in the second claim, accusing the government of “intrusion upon seclusion, malicious prosecution, and abuse of process.” Combined, the two filings total $230 million.
When asked about the compensation request during a Diwali event at the White House on October 21, Trump appeared to acknowledge the claims, noting the unusual position of having to authorize potential payments to himself.
“You know that decision would have to go across my desk,” Trump said. “And it’s awfully strange to make a decision where I’m paying myself. But I was damaged very greatly. And any money that I would get, I would give to charity.”
When pressed later on the total amount sought, Trump said, “I don’t know what the numbers are. I don’t even talk to them about it.”
The New York Times reported that the Justice Department requires any settlement above $4 million to be approved by either the deputy attorney general or the associate attorney general. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche previously served as Trump’s personal lawyer, raising questions about potential conflicts of interest.
Responding to those concerns, Justice Department spokesperson Chad Gilmartin said, “In any circumstance, all officials at the Department of Justice follow the guidance of career ethics officials.”
Democrats on the House Judiciary Committee have criticized the move, calling it an attempt to profit from taxpayer funds. Representative Jamie Raskin, the leading Democrat on the committee, announced an internal review into what he described as “a $230 million shakedown of the taxpayers by Trump.”
Both claims were filed before Trump won the 2024 election, according to The Times.
