Here's the timeline. Carter Page — a former Trump campaign adviser who the FBI surveilled during its investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election — filed a lawsuit in 2020 claiming he was the victim of "unlawful spying." The suit alleged that FBI and DOJ officials made omissions and errors in their FISA warrant applications. Page was never charged with anything. He vigorously denied improper ties to Russia.
A federal court threw the case out in 2022. An appeals court agreed, ruling that Page waited too long to file his complaint. The case was dead. Page appealed to the Supreme Court as a last-ditch effort.
Then Trump's DOJ intervened. Solicitor General D. John Sauer filed a notice with the Supreme Court that the administration had "agreed to settle" Page's claims against the federal government for $1.25 million.
Read that again. The government already won this case. A court said Page's lawsuit had no merit. The appeals court agreed. And then the DOJ — under Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche, who is Trump's personal former defense lawyer — decided to pay him anyway. With your money.
It Gets Worse: Flynn Got Paid Too
This isn't an isolated incident. In March, the same DOJ settled a separate lawsuit with Michael Flynn for approximately $1.2 million. Flynn — Trump's former National Security Adviser who pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI about his conversations with a Russian diplomat — was later pardoned by Trump. Then he sued. And then Trump's DOJ paid him.
Let that sink in. Flynn admitted under oath to a federal crime. He was pardoned by the president he served. And then the government handed him $1.2 million because the investigation that caught him telling the truth about his lies was... what? Unfair?
Carter Page: $1.25 million. Never charged. Lawsuit dismissed by two courts. Settled by Trump's DOJ anyway.
Michael Flynn: ~$1.2 million. Pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI. Pardoned by Trump. Then paid by Trump's DOJ.
Total taxpayer cost: $2.45 million and counting.
The Settlement Doesn't Even End It
Here's the kicker: the settlement only covers Page's claims against the federal government. His lawsuit against the individual defendants — former FBI Director James Comey, former Deputy Director Andrew McCabe, and ex-FBI officials Kevin Clinesmith, Peter Strzok, and Lisa Page — those claims remain active.
So the DOJ paid Carter Page $1.25 million to settle the part of his case that a court already killed, and left alive the part targeting individual FBI officials who investigated Trump's campaign. It's not a settlement. It's a signal. It says: we'll use the Justice Department's budget to reward the people Trump considers victims, and we'll keep the legal heat on the people Trump considers enemies.
“The Trump administration informed the Supreme Court on Wednesday that it had reached a settlement with Page on his claims against the federal government.” — Associated Press
A Loyalty Rewards Program with a Legal Budget
Every DOJ settlement comes from the Judgment Fund — an indefinite, permanent appropriation that doesn't require specific congressional approval. It's taxpayer money, paid automatically. There's no vote. There's no debate. The DOJ decides to settle, and the check gets written.
Under Trump, the DOJ has transformed this fund into a loyalty rewards program. Got investigated during Russia-gate? Here's a million dollars. Pled guilty but got pardoned? Here's another million. The common thread isn't legal merit — both cases were either dismissed or involved admitted guilt. The common thread is loyalty to Donald Trump.
Todd Blanche — the man signing off on these settlements — was literally Trump's criminal defense attorney before Trump installed him at the DOJ. He defended Trump in the Manhattan hush money trial. Now he's using the federal government's checkbook to compensate Trump's allies for the inconvenience of being investigated for things they actually did.
$2.45 million. Two settlements. Both for people whose legal cases were either dead or built on admitted guilt. Both loyal to Trump. Both paid with money that comes out of your pocket whether Congress approves it or not. The Department of Justice isn't settling cases. It's settling scores.
Sources
- Associated Press (via WSLS): DOJ settled Carter Page lawsuit for $1.25 million. Solicitor General Sauer filed notice with Supreme Court. Settlement doesn't cover claims against individual defendants including Comey and McCabe. Also reveals March settlement with Michael Flynn for ~$1.2 million. April 22, 2026.
- Just The News: Page sued FBI, DOJ and eight individuals over FISA surveillance. Lower court tossed case in 2022. Settlement amount $1.25 million. Claims against individual defendants remain active. April 22, 2026.
- Washington Times: Page asserted "unlawful spying" by FBI in 2020 lawsuit. Appellate judges said he waited too long to file. Settlement reached as Supreme Court appeal was pending. Dollar figure confirmed by person familiar with matter. April 22, 2026.
- CBS News: Page argued surveillance was unlawful because FISA warrant applications were "false and misleading." Page never charged with wrongdoing. Settlement disclosed in Supreme Court filing. April 22, 2026.