
US President Donald Trump has asked the Justice Department to pay him about $230 million in compensation for past federal investigations into him, The New York Times reported on Tuesday, citing people familiar with the matter.
The report said Trump’s demand involves two formal complaints filed through an administrative process that could lead to lawsuits. The first, submitted in 2023, seeks damages for alleged violations of his rights during the FBI and special counsel investigations into Russian interference in the 2016 election and possible links to his campaign.
A second complaint, filed in 2024, accuses the FBI of breaching his privacy when agents searched his Florida residence, Mar-a-Lago, in 2022 for classified documents. It also accuses the Justice Department of “malicious prosecution” for charging him with mishandling sensitive government records after leaving office.
According to The New York Times, the situation is unprecedented in American history. Trump, once again is asking for compensation from the same government whose officials once investigated him and which he now oversees.
The report noted that the claims could be reviewed by senior Justice Department officials who previously served as defence lawyers for Trump or his allies. These include Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche, Attorney General Pam Bondi, and FBI Director Kash Patel.
Legal experts quoted by The New York Times said the case raises serious questions about ethics and conflicts of interest. “What a travesty,” said Bennett L. Gershman, a law professor at Pace University. “The ethical conflict is just so basic and fundamental, you don’t need a law professor to explain it.”
He added that it was “bizarre” for people currently serving under Trump to decide whether he should receive compensation. “To have people in the Justice Department decide whether his claim should be successful or not and these are the people who serve him it’s almost too outlandish to believe,” Gershman said.
The report highlighted that such claims are usually the first step before filing a lawsuit. If the Justice Department rejects Trump’s claims, he could take the matter to court.
Trump’s demand comes as his administration continues to face scrutiny over appointments of former allies and lawyers to key positions within the Justice Department, which is now responsible for assessing his compensation request.