The Art of the Self-Deal: Will Trump's Lawyers Sign Off on His Fund?
The latest kleptocratic actions by the Trump administration from the week of October 27, 2025
I have a lawsuit that was doing very well, and when I became president I said, ‘I’m sort of suing myself.’ I don’t know, how do you settle the lawsuit, I’ll say give me X dollars, and I don’t know what to do with the lawsuit...It sort of looks bad, I’m suing myself, right?
- President Trump, October 15, 2025
The East Wing of the White House is hardly the only thing being torn down this week. Our justice system continues to be captured and bent to the needs of one man. This week’s evidence: Trump is reportedly demanding that the Justice Department pay him $230 million in compensation for the federal investigations into him.
The President previously submitted two complaints through an administrative claim process. This is something that happens before a lawsuit, quite often. The first of the complaints, filed in 2023, seeks damages for the FBI and Special Counsel investigation into Russia’s election tampering in 2016 and possible connections with the Trump campaign. A second complaint, filed in 2024, alleges that the FBI violated his privacy and engaged in malicious prosecution by searching his estate at Mar-a-Lago in the search for classified documents.
Regardless of whether one thinks these claims have merit, they must go through a standard, open, and fair process. Department of Justice (DOJ) policy states that settlements of claims against the Justice Department for more than $4 million “must be approved by the deputy attorney general or associate attorney general.”
Here’s the problem. Who is the Deputy Attorney General in charge? That would be Todd Blanche, who previously led Trump’s defense team in the Mar-a-Lago investigation. Associate Attorney General Stanley Woodward represented Trump’s valet and co-defendant, Walt Nauta, in the same case.
By any standards, this is a conflict of interest for these lawyers. According to Bennett L. Gershman, an ethics professor interviewed by the New York Times, “The ethical conflict is just so basic and fundamental, you don’t need a law professor to explain it.” More specifically, most jurisdictions ban lawyers from representing two parties who are adversaries in a legal matter—as Trump and the DOJ are in this case. Whether the top DOJ lawyers will recuse themselves remains an open question.
According to CNN, DOJ spokesperson Chad Gilmartin said, “All officials at the Department of Justice follow the guidance of career ethics officials” should top officials be conflicted in the matter. The problem is that Pam Bondi dismissed the DOJ’s top ethics lawyer earlier this year. Can we count on the remaining career officials to rein in conflicts? Or will Trump profit off of his previous prosecutions?
Weekly Wins
Noem’s TSA Video Hits Turbulence in Top 10 US Airports
In a critical demonstration of institutional backbone, each of America’s ten busiest airports have refused to serve as platforms for Kristi Noem’s now-notorious TSA video, which aims to blame Democrats for the government shutdown. Airport authorities from Atlanta to Seattle cited longstanding bans on partisan political messaging. In doing so, the airports have upheld policies meant to safeguard public spaces from government propaganda. Chalk this up as another collective action win against creeping kleptocracy: it’s a sign that even under intense pressure, institutional norms and local regulations can resist the abuse of federal resources for partisan gain.
More Wins
More links, more kleptocracy
Protection racket
Self-enrichment
Inside the Trump family’s global crypto cash machine - Reuters
Trump Jr.-Linked Firm Rallies On Pentagon Wins, Unmanned Carrier Efforts - Investors’ Business Daily
Trump’s social media company to launch prediction betting marketplace - CBS News
Cronyism
Nvidia CEO turns tech conference into celebration of Trump - Politico
President Trump’s granddaughter gets exemption to LPGA tournament - AP
Here’s Who Could Have Donated $130 Million To Fund The Troops During Shutdown - Forbes
The Lessons of an Indefensible Pardon for a Crypto Billionaire - New Yorker
Threats, intimidation, and surveillance
Trump Says He Is Prepared to Send ‘More Than the National Guard’ Into U.S. Cities - NYT
Chicago’s children are getting caught in the chaos of immigration crackdowns - AP
Executive power grabs
Weakening independent agencies
Justice Department and the Judiciary
Man deported to Laos despite court order blocking his removal, attorneys say - AP
Trump Asks Supreme Court to Let Him Fire the Top Copyright Official - NYT
After Law Firm Deals With Trump, D.C. Bar Warns of Ethical Jeopardy - NYT
Behind ICE Blitz, Trump Dismantles Discretion in Immigration Enforcement - The Marshall Project
Top Democrats demand details of spy agencies’ role in boat strikes - WaPo
Other agencies and local government
US military officials required to sign NDAs tied to Latin America mission - Reuters
Pentagon removes key protections for civilian workers, moves to fire with ‘speed and conviction - The Hill
Trump’s Threat to Hudson River Tunnels Becomes Focus of New Jersey Election - NYT
Trump Dismisses Another Inspector General, Fueling Oversight Concerns - NYT
Trump Official Warns California Against Arresting Federal Agents - NYT
Civil society, media, and higher education
Undermining independent data
How a major DOE report hides the whole truth on climate change - Politico
US consumer finance watchdog formally kills Biden-era bad actor registry - Reuters
Why Future Federal Reports on Election Security May Be Unreliable - Brennan Center
Manipulating elections
Red states are preparing for an end to the Voting Rights Act - Politico
Trump Empowers Election Deniers, Still Fixated on 2020 Grievances - NYT
Donald Trump’s Plan to Subvert the Midterms Is Already Under Way - The Atlantic
Trump administration proposal for online voter registration form raises concerns - Votebeat
California says it will monitor the Justice Department’s election watchers next week - NBC News