Former White House chief of staff Mark Meadows has formally requested that the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) reimburse him for legal expenses incurred during several federal and state investigations related to former President Donald Trump. The request was submitted by Meadows’ attorney, George Terwilliger, in early February, sources familiar with the matter told CBS News.
Meadows’ legal challenges stem from probes into Trump’s attempts to overturn the 2020 presidential election results. The House Select Committee on the January 6th Attack reported that Meadows played a key role in exerting pressure on the DOJ to investigate unfounded conspiracy theories and participated in a phone call in which Trump urged Georgia’s Secretary of State to “find” additional votes. Additionally, a Senate Judiciary Committee report documented Meadows’ efforts to influence the DOJ’s actions with internal communications and testimonies.
Although Meadows was not charged in the federal case brought by special counsel Jack Smith against Trump for election interference, he faces criminal charges in Georgia and Arizona concerning state investigations into alleged election-related misconduct. Trump pardoned Meadows and others in November 2025, after which Georgia prosecutors dropped the charges. However, Meadows’ legal situation remains unsettled in Arizona, where he was charged in connection to so-called “fake electors.”
Meadows is seeking coverage of substantial legal fees across different jurisdictions. Court filings in Georgia reveal he paid more than $569,000 to the law firm Griffin Durham and nearly $650,000 to McGuireWoods, with additional unpaid fees reported. He also paid a flat fee of $200,000 to attorney Paul Clement for efforts to move his case to federal court. The source of funding for these expenses has drawn scrutiny, with inquiries into whether nonprofit organizations may have indirectly financed his defense.
The DOJ stated it evaluates requests for private counsel reimbursement on a case-by-case basis, focusing on whether the individual’s actions were part of their official government duties and if granting reimbursement serves the public interest. The department’s reimbursement rates for legal fees are governed by internal regulations and typically fall below market rates.
It remains unclear how much Meadows is seeking from the DOJ or whether the department intends to approve the request. Historically, most reimbursement claims are denied if not pursued promptly, but exceptions are possible. Moreover, DOJ decisions on such requests are treated as privileged and are not publicly disclosed.
Why it matters
The outcome of Meadows’ reimbursement request will reflect DOJ policy on covering legal costs for officials embroiled in politically sensitive investigations related to official duties. This case also highlights ongoing legal and political ramifications stemming from efforts to challenge the 2020 election, as well as questions about government accountability and taxpayer-funded legal protections.
Background
Mark Meadows served as Trump’s White House chief of staff during a tumultuous post-election period marked by attempts to overturn the 2020 election results. His involvement has been scrutinized by congressional committees and special counsel investigations. Meadows was criminally charged in parallel cases at the state level, with Georgia dropping charges following a Trump pardon, while Arizona’s case proceeds. The DOJ has the authority to reimburse former government officials’ legal fees if their actions were within official duties, but such reimbursements require careful evaluation.
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