Trump downplays seeking $230 million from DOJ
Former President Donald Trump responded to reports that he is seeking a $230 million settlement from the Justice Department related to past federal investigations into his conduct. Speaking at a Diwali celebration in the Oval Office, Trump downplayed the claim, stating he does not seek compensation and woudl donate any potential payout to charity or use it for White House restoration projects. He acknowledged the unusual nature of such a settlement, especially as it would require his approval, calling it “awfully strange” to approve payments to himself. the investigations referenced include the handling of classified documents at Mar-a-Lago and alleged interference in the 2020 presidential election, which Trump continues to contest.Although Trump’s legal team reportedly negotiated the $230 million figure, he claimed not to be involved in the specifics and reiterated his lack of interest in receiving money from the goverment.
Trump claims he would donate possible payout from Justice Department to charity
President Donald Trump downplayed a report that he is seeking $230 million in compensation from the Justice Department over past federal investigations into his conduct. He suggested he would donate any funds he received to charity.
“I don’t get any compensation. I do it for nothing. I gave up my salary,” Trump said at first when questioned by a reporter during a Tuesday celebration of Diwali in the Oval Office.
“Well, I guess they probably owe me a lot of money for that,” Trump continued about the DOJ’s investigations, to the laughter of the room.
“But if I get money from our country, I’ll do something nice with it, like give it to charity, or give it to the White House, where we restore the White House,” Trump said. “And we’re doing a great job in the White House … you know, the ballroom is under construction.”
Before the Diwali event began on Tuesday, the New York Times published a report that senior DOJ officials could approve the possible $230 million settlement, a move with no precedent in American history.
Trump acknowledged the ethical confusion surrounding the settlement while talking with reporters.
“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,” he said.
The Justice Department investigated Trump for taking classified documents with him to Mar-a-Lago after leaving office in 2020 and for allegedly interfering with the 2020 election after he lost the election to former President Joe Biden.
However, Trump repeatedly insists that he won the election.
“We have numerous cases having to do with the fraud of the election, the 2020, election, and because of everything that we found out, I guess they owe me a lot of money. But I’m not looking for money,” said Trump on Tuesday.
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The president was again questioned by a second reporter on whether he was insisting on a $230 million figure, although he claimed not to know the amount his legal team is asking for.
“I don’t know what the numbers are,” said Trump. “I don’t even talk to them about it. All I know is that they would owe me a lot of money. But … I’m not looking for money. I’d give it to charity or something. I would give it to charity.”
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