October 21, 2025
That was President trump just a few moments ago in the oval office confirming that yes – he is asking his own Department of Justice to pay him money in compensation for what he says is the damage he suffered during the classified documents investigation and during what he now called the Russia Russia Russia hoax.
How much money? Well –Trump wouldn’t say – but the New York times did. The reporting says he is seeking $230 million from the US government. And in case you are unclear – if his claims are approved whatever the amount is– you and me – the American taxpayers would be on the hook to pay it. According to the reporting Trump filed two separate claims against the Department of Justice– before he was president saying his civil rights were trampled on by the government, he was damaged by that and he deserves compensation. But now that he’s actually sitting in the oval office trump says it’s a little awkward.
So what’s this damage that Trump keeps talking about? According to the reporting Trump filed the first claim for compensation in 2023 for what Trump now calls the Russia Russia Russia hoax. The other claim was filed in 2024 over the FBI search of his Mar-a-Lago home during the classified documents investigation. Of course the FBI didn’t just burst into Mar-a-Lago because they felt like it. That raid was approved by a judge. They had a valid warrant which was issued because of what the Biden Justice Department described as unauthorized highly classified documents sitting in boxes in Trump’s ballroom and bathroom in Florida. It’s also worth noting –about the same time — the Biden FBI also searched then President Biden’s home and office because they also believed he was holding unauthorized highly classified documents. Former vice president mike pence also at the same time raised his hand and said he too had classified documents in his possession.
For the record – in the Trump classified documents case – in July 2024 a Florida federal judge dismissed the federal charges against then candidate Donald Trump. Special counsel Jack Smith appealed that ruling – but then Trump won the election so Smith resigned and the Biden Department of Justice dropped their appeal. So that case was never actually finished – but the last ruling stands. Which was case dismissed.
As for Russia investigation… that resulted in special counsel Robert Mueller producing the muller report – which determined yes Russia did try to interfere in the 2016 election but it did not establish that members of the 2016 trump campaign conspired or coordinated with the Russians. So also – case dismissed at least against trump himself.
Now – it is a fact – that yes – you can absolutely file a complaint for damages against the department of justice if you feel like your civil or constitutional rights were violated or if you were wrongfully imprisoned and you were not convicted of a crime. This does happen. And yes – it’s also true that trump was never convicted of any crime connected to either of those federal investigations. So he can do it – but now that he’s the president should he? That’s for you to decide. It seems like even trump things it’s not the best look.
I want to make one more point. As far as we know – the $230 million in damages have not yet been approved by the justice department. But to get approval – they would have to go through the chain of command at DOJ. That means – Trump’s hand picked Attorney General Pam Bondi would probably have to at least look at it — but one of the sign offs required would have to come from the deputy attorney general. Trump’s deputy attorney general is a guy named Todd Blanche. If that name sounds familiar, or his face looks familiar – it should. Todd Blanche was then candidate Donald Trump’s personal lawyer during the New York criminal case where Trump was found guilty of 34 felony counts of falsifying business records. Blanche was also the DOJ representative who recently flew down to Florida to interview Epstein co-conspirator Ghislaine Maxwell. A few days after Blanche conducted that interview, Maxwell was transferred out of her high security prison to a low security federal camp in Texas.
Watch Trump talk about these claims here.
Read the original reporting from the New York Times here.
