Michael Caputo, a political operative and longtime Trump confidant, filed the inaugural claim Tuesday against the Justice Department's newly established restitution fund, requesting $2.7 million for what he describes as politically motivated government harassment spanning nearly a decade.
Caputo served as a spokesperson for the Department of Health and Human Services during Trump's first term. In a letter posted to X and addressed to acting Attorney General Todd Blanche, he alleged that "the machinery of government was clearly politically weaponized against my family from July 2016 to December 2025." The claim centers on two separate investigations: the FBI's "Crossfire Hurricane" probe into potential coordination between the Trump 2016 campaign and Russian interference efforts, and a 2021 inquiry connected to a documentary Caputo produced after leaving HHS about President Joe Biden and Ukraine.
"They found nothing; we lost everything," Caputo wrote in the letter, which he confirmed to NBC News. The documentary in question, titled "The Ukraine Hoax: Impeachment, Biden Cash, and Mass Murder," apparently drew scrutiny after an intelligence assessment declassified in 2021 seemed to reference it.
The Justice Department unveiled the $1.8 billion fund Monday following Trump's decision to dismiss a $10 billion lawsuit against the IRS over leaked tax returns. Trump claimed the initiative, which he said he had no hand in creating, would compensate individuals who were "horribly treated."
Details about how claims will be evaluated remain limited. Acting Attorney General Blanche told senators Tuesday that a five-member commission would decide payouts, with the attorney general selecting four members and one seat filled in consultation with Congress.
The announcement has drawn sharp criticism from observers who view it as a potential vehicle for rewarding political allies. Detractors have called it a "slush fund" that could benefit nearly 1,600 defendants convicted or charged in connection with the January 6th Capitol attack. Vice President JD Vance defended the fund's scope Tuesday, saying "anybody can apply," and suggested hypothetically that even Hunter Biden could seek compensation. Vance also assured reporters that Trump and his family would not pursue claims themselves.
The restitution initiative reflects Trump's long-standing grievance narrative about his legal battles and investigations. Both the Crossfire Hurricane operation and subsequent probes into Trump's conduct have remained contentious touchstones for his supporters, who characterize them as examples of a weaponized justice system. Caputo's claim signals how the new fund may be deployed in coming months to settle such grievances.
Author Sarah Mitchell: "Caputo being first out of the gate suggests we'll see a parade of Trump-world claims, and the real test is whether that five-member commission actually functions as a check or rubber stamps payouts for the president's allies."
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