Trump seeks about $230M from DOJ, ethics questions over approvals

President Donald Trump has submitted administrative claims seeking about $230 million from the Justice Department for federal investigations into him, according to people familiar with the matter, a move that raises unprecedented ethical questions because the settlements could be approved by senior Justice Department officials who previously represented him. The claims, filed before his return to the White House, allege violations tied to the FBI and Justice Department actions that led to multiple high-profile probes and prosecutions.

One claim, lodged in late 2023, seeks damages over the investigation into alleged Russian contacts involving the 2016 campaign and the work of a special counsel. A second complaint, filed in the summer of 2024, accuses the FBI of violating Trump’s privacy during the 2022 search of his Mar-a-Lago residence and alleges the Justice Department engaged in malicious prosecution when it charged him over classified materials. People familiar with the claims said Trump has not yet been paid but expects compensation.

The filings were submitted through the administrative claim process known as Standard Form 95, which is a prerequisite to suing the federal...