Trump Seeks $230 Million Compensation from Justice Department for Previous Federal Investigations

US President Donald Trump stated on Tuesday that the Department of Justice likely owes him financial compensation following reports that he is seeking millions in damages for previous federal investigations against him.

According to The New York Times, Trump's legal representatives are pursuing approximately $230 million in compensation for federal investigations conducted before his second presidential election victory.

When questioned about this report in the Oval Office, Trump remarked, "That decision would have to go across my desk. And it's awfully strange to make a decision where I'm paying myself." He added, "But I was damaged very greatly."

Trump further commented that the Department of Justice "probably owe me a lot of money -- if I get money from our country, I will do something nice with it like to give it to charity or give it to the White House."

The President has initiated multiple legal actions against media organizations and other entities he claims showed bias against him, sometimes securing substantial financial settlements.

Regarding the specific compensation claim, Trump said it "could be" that his legal team had filed such a request, though he stated, "I don't know what the numbers are, I don't even talk to them about it."

A spokesperson for Trump's legal team, while not directly confirming the New York Times report, told AFP that the president "continues to fight back against all Democrat-led witch hunts," including the investigation into alleged collusion between Trump's 2016 campaign and Russia.

The New York Times noted that a situation where a US president seeks compensation from the government he leads has "no parallel in American history" and raises significant ethical concerns.

One notable potential conflict involves Todd Blanche, Trump's former lawyer who now serves as the deputy US attorney general at the Department of Justice.

The Department declined to comment on the status of these claims but rejected suggestions of conflicts among top officials, stating, "In any circumstance, all officials at the Department of Justice follow the guidance of career ethics officials."

Trump faced numerous federal investigations after his first term, including inquiries into alleged mishandling of classified materials and efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election results won by Biden. These investigations were abandoned following Trump's reelection last year.

Additionally, Trump has been convicted of 34 felonies related to hush money payments to a porn star in a New York State case.