Democrats in Congress are opening a new investigation into reports that former President Donald Trump may have sought a massive payment — worth as much as 230 million dollars — from his own Justice Department.
According to a letter obtained by CNN, Democratic Representatives Jamie Raskin and Robert Garcia have launched a formal inquiry into Trump’s alleged demand for compensation related to past federal investigations into him. The request, reportedly made through administrative claims filed in 2023 and 2024, resurfaced this week following revelations by The New York Times — and Trump himself saying he “could be” pursuing such a payout.
The two top Democrats on the House Judiciary and Oversight Committees are now calling on Trump to release extensive documentation, including the original claims filed by his attorneys, communications with Justice Department officials, and internal DOJ memos assessing the legal grounds for his request.
However, without subpoena power, experts say the Democrats’ request may struggle to gain traction.
In their letter, Raskin and Garcia accused Trump of abusing his authority by installing personal allies inside the Justice Department to help advance his financial claims. They argued that if Trump genuinely believed he was owed damages, he could have brought his case to court long before taking office.
Their statement reads in part — quote — “You waited until you became President and placed your handpicked loyalists at DOJ, knowing you could direct them to co-sign your demand notes behind closed doors and present them to the U.S. Treasury for taxpayer money. That isn’t justice — it’s theft.”
On Capitol Hill, reaction has been mixed.
House Speaker Mike Johnson told CNN he hasn’t yet reviewed the details of the report, while Republican Senator Thom Tillis of North Carolina called the situation “terrible optics.” Tillis added that a quarter-billion-dollar transfer to the President — at a time when the government faces a shutdown — sends, quote, “horrible optics.”
As for Trump, he appeared to confirm the possible claim when questioned by reporters Tuesday, though he downplayed his involvement, saying he hadn’t discussed the figures and wasn’t personally seeking money.
“It could be,” Trump said from the Oval Office, adding that if he did receive any payment, he would “give it to charity.”
Still, Trump acknowledged the awkwardness of a situation where he would, in effect, be authorizing a payout to himself. “It’s strange to make a decision where I’m paying myself,” he said. “Did you ever have a case where you decide how much you pay yourself in damages?”
If approved, any such payment would come directly from taxpayer funds.
For now, the controversy continues to grow, as Democrats push for transparency and the Justice Department remains silent on whether any review of Trump’s claim is underway.
Reporting by Katy Moore.
