U.S. President Donald Trump has filed claims totalling approximately $230 million against the Department of Justice (DOJ), seeking compensation for federal investigations carried out against him.
Speaking at the White House on Tuesday, Trump said, “Yes, they probably owe me a lot of money,” referring to the series of investigations he faced after leaving office. The situation is unprecedented in U.S. history, as the same government that once investigated Trump must now evaluate his compensation request.
Legal experts have noted that the case reflects potential ethical concerns about appointing former presidential lawyers to lead the Department of Justice.
Trump initially filed a lawsuit in late 2023 through a pre-trial administrative process, alleging that federal probes violated his rights. His complaint included the investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election and possible links to his campaign.
A second complaint, lodged in mid-2024, accuses the FBI of violating his privacy during the 2022 search of his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida, where classified documents were seized. Trump further alleges that the Department of Justice engaged in malicious prosecution in connection with the charges over mishandling confidential records after leaving the presidency.
During his second administration, Trump has also authorised prosecutions of several figures involved in previous investigations of him. Among them are New York Attorney General Letitia James, who examined irregularities in his business affairs, and former FBI Director James Comey, who oversaw the 2016 inquiry into potential Russian interference.