Congressman Jamie Raskin Launches Investigation Into Trump’s $230 Million Claim Calls It a “Civic Emergency”

 

Democratic Congressman Jamie Raskin has taken a strong stand against what he describes as one of the most blatantly corrupt moves ever attempted by a former U.S. president. Raskin announced an official investigation to uncover the entire paper trail behind Donald Trump’s demand for $230 million in taxpayer money a demand that has shocked legal experts and lawmakers alike.

According to Raskin, Trump is seeking a massive payout from the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) a so-called “settlement” he claims he is owed for legal actions tied to previous investigations into his conduct. What’s even more troubling, Raskin noted, is that Trump himself admitted it feels “awfully strange” that he would be “paying myself” with public money.

Raskin explained to The New Republic that this “settlement,” if processed quietly within the DOJ’s internal claims system, could remain hidden from the public until the end of the fiscal year meaning Trump could receive the funds before anyone even knows it happened.

“Even though this is a private settlement, it doesn’t have to be disclosed until there’s an accounting of where all the money has gone,” Raskin said.

The Maryland lawmaker cited the Domestic Emoluments Clause, which explicitly forbids a U.S. president from receiving any government payment beyond their official salary.

“That means he cannot be ordering government officials to write checks to the president,” Raskin emphasized.

Raskin is now demanding access to all internal communications between the White House and the DOJ, including messages involving Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche, a longtime Trump ally and former personal attorney. These communications could reveal whether Trump or his inner circle are pressuring the department to approve the controversial payment.

With MAGA loyalists like Blanche and former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi reportedly involved in the process, Raskin and other Democrats fear the request could be pushed through without oversight.

“It goes without saying that anybody in the Trump administration who violates the law is expecting a pardon from Donald Trump,” Raskin warned. “If you want the president’s protection, you have to follow his every wish.”

Raskin didn’t mince words about the broader implications:

“This is a civic emergency. Are we going to allow future presidents to just shake down the Department of Justice or other parts of our government for personal gain?”

He vowed that Democrats will continue to demand full transparency and if they regain subpoena power after the midterms, they’ll pursue every document, memo, and conversation tied to this case.

“We’re asking for this information on behalf of the American people,” Raskin said. “This is about defending our democracy and the rule of law.”

In short, Raskin is making it clear: no president — past or future should ever have the power to raid public funds for personal profit.