Trump sues his own Justice Department | Planet America

Key Concepts

• Personal Payout from Justice Department: President Trump is seeking $230 million from the Justice Department as compensation for federal investigations.
• Conflict of Interest: Trump acknowledges the inherent conflict in making a decision where he would be paying himself.
• Settlement Approval Process: Settlements exceeding $4 million require approval from the Deputy Attorney General or Associate Attorney General.
• Key Individuals Involved: Todd Blanch (Deputy AG, former Trump defense lawyer) and Stanley Woodward (Associate AG, represented Trump's valet).
• Trump's Claims:
  1. Violation of rights by the FBI and Special Counsel during the 2016 Russia collusion investigation (filed 2023).
  2. Violation of privacy by the FBI during the Mar-a-Lago classified documents search (filed 2024).
• Due Process and Investigations: The transcript questions the notion of compensation when investigations followed proper processes and were signed off by authorities.
• Ethics Officials: The White House states that career ethics officials will guide the decision, but the DOJ currently lacks a senior ethics advisor.
• Confidentiality of Settlements: The Justice Department is not required to publicly announce such settlements.

Personal Payout Push by President Trump

President Trump is pursuing a significant personal payout of $230 million from the Justice Department. This compensation is sought for the federal investigations he has faced. The funds for this payout would ultimately be sourced from American taxpayers.

Acknowledged Conflict of Interest

President Trump himself has recognized the unusual nature of this situation, stating, "It's interesting because I'm the one that makes a decision, right? and uh you know that decision would have to go across my desk and it's awfully strange to make a decision where I'm paying myself. In other words, did you ever have one of those cases where you have to decide how much you're paying yourself in damages? But I was damaged very greatly." This highlights a clear conflict of interest in him adjudicating a payment to himself.

Justice Department Settlement Approval Mechanism

The process for approving proposed settlements exceeding $4 million within the Justice Department involves sign-off from either the Deputy Attorney General or the Associate Attorney General.

• Deputy Attorney General: Todd Blanch, who is designated to approve such settlements, previously served as one of Trump's lead defense lawyers.
• Associate Attorney General: Stanley Woodward, who also has approval authority, represented Trump's valet and a co-defendant in the Mar-a-Lago classified documents case. The transcript points out the "convenience" of these individuals' involvement.

Basis of Trump's Claims

The $230 million settlement request is based on two distinct claims filed by Trump:

1. 2016 Russia Collusion Investigation (Filed 2023): Trump alleges that the FBI and the Special Counsel violated his rights during the investigation into potential collusion with Russia in the 2016 election.
2. Mar-a-Lago Classified Documents Search (Filed 2024): Trump claims that the FBI violated his right to privacy when they searched Mar-a-Lago for classified documents, which were subsequently found.

Scrutiny of Compensation Claims

The transcript questions the validity of Trump's claim for compensation. It is argued that all the investigations in question went through the "proper process" and were "signed off by the appropriate authorities at the time." The presenter suggests that Trump might have faced imprisonment if he had not won the 2024 election, implying that the concept of "due compensation" for "getting away with an apparent crime" is questionable.

Ethics Oversight and Concerns

The White House has stated that all Department of Justice officials will adhere to the guidance of "career ethics officials" when deciding on the payout. However, this assurance is presented as "less than comforting" due to a significant gap in oversight:

• Absence of Senior Ethics Advisor: There is currently no senior ethics advisor at the Department of Justice, as the previous one was dismissed by Pam Bondi three months prior and has not yet been replaced. This lack of a senior ethics official raises concerns about the impartiality and thoroughness of the decision-making process.

Confidentiality of Settlements

A notable aspect of this situation is that the Justice Department is not legally obligated to make a public announcement of such settlements. This means that if Trump is indeed paid, the public might not be officially informed. However, the transcript speculates that "if the payoff does happen, everyone is going to find out about this," referencing the fact that the story itself leaked, suggesting an internal source.

Conclusion

President Trump's pursuit of a $230 million payout from the Justice Department for federal investigations presents a significant conflict of interest, particularly given the involvement of individuals with past ties to his defense. The claims are based on alleged violations of rights during the Russia collusion investigation and the Mar-a-Lago documents search. While the White House points to ethics officials for guidance, the absence of a senior ethics advisor at the DOJ raises concerns about the integrity of the process. Furthermore, the potential for the settlement to remain undisclosed adds another layer of controversy to this extraordinary situation.