Washington, D.C. (October 23, 2025)—Today, Rep. Jamie Raskin, Ranking Member of the House Judiciary Committee, and Rep. Robert Garcia, Ranking Member of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, sent a letter to President Donald Trump demanding he immediately abandon his illegal and unconstitutional plan to steal $230 million from U.S. taxpayers by ordering his former private attorneys—now serving as top Department of Justice (DOJ) officials—to abuse a confidential, behind-closed-doors administrative claim process to fulfill the President’s demand and cut him a personal check from the U.S. Treasury. The Ranking Members are also demanding that Trump turn over any documents, legal analysis, or communications between him and any White House or DOJ official regarding the scheme to rob American taxpayers.
“In remarks to the press this week, you described a blatantly illegal and unconstitutional effort to steal $230 million from the American people. Your plan to have your obedient underlings at the Department of Justice (DOJ) instruct the U.S. Treasury to pay you, personally, hundreds of millions of dollars—especially at a time when most Americans are struggling to pay rent, put food on the table, and afford health care—is an outrageous and shocking attempt to shake down the American people. The founders feared Presidents like you might one day be tempted to use their powers to steal U.S. taxpayer funds. That’s why they enshrined a very simple rule into the Constitution, which is called the Domestic Emoluments Clause. As President, you may not receive any payment from the federal government or any of the states, except for your salary, which is currently fixed by law at $400,000 per year,” wrote Ranking Members Raskin and Garcia.
On Tuesday, Trump described a flagrantly illegal scheme to have his political appointees in the DOJ—both attorneys who used to be on Trump’s and his co-defendant’s payroll—approve spurious administrative claims he filed before taking office and direct the U.S. Treasury to pay $230 million to the President. Trump could have gone to court if he believed these claims had merit and litigated them in full view of the public. Instead he waited until he was President and could secretly order his subordinates to approve this robbery of the American taxpayer.
This scheme would constitute a direct violation of the Constitution’s clear prohibition on presidents receiving any payment from the federal or state governments beyond their fixed salary.
“There is still time for you—and anyone in your Administration considering aiding and abetting these comically unconstitutional actions—to call off this outrageous conspiracy. We urge you to renounce your plan publicly and assure the American people that their President is not pocketing hundreds of millions of dollars at their expense,” concluded the Ranking Members.
