President Donald Trump is demanding that the Justice Department give him $230 million to cover his legal fees for the investigations into him over the Russia probe, for stealing classified documents, and for the Jan. 6 attack and his attempt to overturn the 2020 election, The New York Times reported Tuesday.
While the Times cited experts who say there's no ambiguity when it comes to the ethics of the matter, others fear the U.S. Supreme Court's decision giving Trump complete control over his branch of government could give him a pass here, too.
"A nice illustration that the unitary executive theory violates nemo iudex in causa sua, since it holds that he could just order this to be approved (which is de facto what he's going to do)," said Jacob T. Leavy, Tomlinson Professor of Political Theory at McGill University.
"This isn't complicated, he's just straight up extorting the Justice Department and looting taxpayers to put $230 million in his own pocket. Don't hold your breath waiting for any Republicans in the party to speak up about this either," complained the anti-Trump group The Lincoln Project.
"Not taking a salary, but demanding 575x his salary as tribute from DOJ," commented Media Matters fellow Matthew Gertz.
"This would be the most corrupt act in presidential history. No complicated schemes, no outside actors, just a straight up looting of the taxpayers to put $230 million in Trump's pocket," said former State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller.
Political scientist David Leheny posited that the DOJ might kick in an extra $50 million "to thank him for the opportunity to serve."
"Looking forward to the roar of silence from elected Republicans about this truly shocking, unprecedented display of corruption, and of course the MAGA ditto heads breaking their backs trying to come up with some whatabout comparison to a Democrat," said senior political science lecturer Damon Linker.
"Democrats should be drawing up legislation right now, this very minute, to bar Trump from helping himself to $230 million in taxpayer funds from DOJ. Challenge Republicans to hold a vote on it. Push this so hard in the media that every GOP Senate and House candidate is pressed to comment on it," demanded New Republic columnist Greg Sargent.
National security analyst Marcy Wheeler replied, "Sure, fine. But let's focus on Todd Blanche's criminal liability and how if he does this it's bc he needs a pardon. There is literally zero reason to focus primarily on Dems here. It's fighting the wrong adversary."
