Overview
- The Justice Department has not approved any payment, and Trump confirmed he is seeking up to $230 million over prior federal probes including the Russia inquiry and the Mar-a-Lago search.
- Any high-dollar settlement decision would rest with the deputy or associate attorney general; Deputy AG Todd Blanche previously served as Trump’s defense attorney and Associate AG Stanley Woodward represented Trump aide Walt Nauta, prompting recusal calls.
- House Democrats Jamie Raskin and Robert Garcia opened an inquiry and requested documents, arguing the bid violates the Constitution’s Domestic Emoluments Clause and describing it as an attempt to take $230 million from taxpayers.
- Legal experts say FTCA claims rarely yield large administrative payouts in cases like this and that a bona fide DOJ settlement would likely be paid from the Judgment Fund and be difficult for outsiders to challenge in court due to standing hurdles.
- Republican senators flagged optics and ethics concerns during a shutdown, with Thom Tillis calling the timing terrible and Susan Collins labeling it irregular, while conservative Ben Shapiro warned the move is rife with conflicts and could trigger lawsuits or even impeachment as Trump says he would donate any money to charity.