• Senator Thom Tillis calls Trump’s compensation demand terrible optics during ongoing government shutdown
• Trump filed administrative claims seeking damages for Russia investigation and Mar-a-Lago search
• Former defense attorney Todd Blanche now positioned as deputy AG to approve any settlement

WASHINGTON, D.C. (TDR) — Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) ripped President Donald Trump on Wednesday over the terrible optics of chasing $230 million in taxpayer money in his reported bid to sue the Justice Department for past legal battles. The sharp rebuke from the retiring senator came as most Republicans remained silent on Trump’s unprecedented compensation demand.

“It’s terrible optics, particularly right now,” Tillis told CNN’s Manu Raju. “We’re talking about a quarter of a billion dollars transferring, maybe to the President when we’re in a shutdown posture.”

Claims target multiple investigations

The New York Times reported Tuesday that Trump filed administrative claims seeking compensation for federal investigations conducted during President Joe Biden‘s term. One claim from 2023 seeks damages for the FBI and special counsel investigation into Russian election interference and possible connections to Trump’s 2016 campaign. A second claim filed in 2024 accuses the FBI of violating his privacy during the 2022 search of Mar-a-Lago for classified documents and alleges malicious prosecution.

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During Biden’s presidency, then-Attorney General Merrick Garland appointed Special Counsel Jack Smith, who brought two major cases against Trump. Grand juries indicted the former president for retaining classified documents after leaving office and for efforts to overturn the 2020 election. Trump pleaded not guilty to all charges, which were dropped following his 2024 election victory.

Timing draws criticism during shutdown

When asked if Trump should drop the request, Tillis emphasized the problematic timing. “Unless it’s something that’s done in the normal course of business — and I don’t believe that it is — at the very least it’s horrible timing given that we’re in a shutdown,” Tillis said. “I got a lot of optics concerns and I just don’t know if there’s precedent for it. There doesn’t seem to be.”

The government shutdown has now surpassed 20 days, with lawmakers locked in stalemate over spending negotiations. Tillis acknowledged Trump may be entitled to some compensation if the DOJ investigations were improper but called the effort odd given current circumstances.

Former defense lawyer holds approval power

The situation presents extraordinary ethical conflicts. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche represented Trump as a defense attorney in the classified documents and Jan. 6 cases before his DOJ appointment. Justice Department policy requires settlements exceeding $4 million to receive approval from the deputy attorney general or associate attorney general, meaning Trump’s former criminal defense lawyer would decide his claim.

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“The situation has no parallel in American history,” the Times reported, noting Trump was pursued by federal law enforcement as a candidate, won the election, then took over the very government that must now review his claims.

Republicans largely silent on issue

Most GOP senators declined to weigh in on Trump’s compensation demand. Sens. Bill Cassidy (R-La.) and John Cornyn (R-Texas) told reporters they did not know the details and would not comment on the issue.

Former Trump campaign adviser David Urban also questioned the move. “If the president wants to get an apology from the Department of Justice, or from somebody for doing him wrong — one thing,” Urban told CNN. “For John Q. Public to come out of their checkbook to pay him money, it’s not like Donald Trump’s brand has been hurt by that, right?”

Democratic Sen. Dick Durbin, the top Democrat on the Senate Judiciary Committee, called the news outrageous. “The corruption of this presidency is unparalleled in American history, and to think that he is asking now for hundreds of millions of dollars for some compensation is just, it’s unthinkable,” he said.

Tillis openly clashed with Trump in July after refusing to vote for the president’s One Big Beautiful Bill, which resulted in insults from the Oval Office.

Should taxpayers compensate a president for investigations that resulted in criminal indictments, even after charges were dropped?

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