Case: Bates v. Trump

1:26-cv-01328 | U.S. District Court for the District of District of Columbia

Filed Date: April 19, 2026

Case Ongoing

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Case Summary

(This summary is temporary while we research the case.) Plaintiff, a citizen-taxpayer and attorney, filed this derivative lawsuit on behalf of the United States against Donald J. Trump, Pamela Bondi, and Jeanine F. Pirro in their individual capacities on April 19, 2026, in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. The complaint alleged that all three defendants, as executive officers of the United States, breached their fiduciary duties through three primary patterns of misconduct⁻.…

(This summary is temporary while we research the case.)

Plaintiff, a citizen-taxpayer and attorney, filed this derivative lawsuit on behalf of the United States against Donald J. Trump, Pamela Bondi, and Jeanine F. Pirro in their individual capacities on April 19, 2026, in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. The complaint alleged that all three defendants, as executive officers of the United States, breached their fiduciary duties through three primary patterns of misconduct⁻. These included covering up Volume Two of Special Counsel Jack Smith's report on Trump's alleged Espionage Act violations involving classified documents, abusing the Department of Justice's prosecutorial power to bring revenge prosecutions against Democratic Members of Congress and Trump's perceived enemies, and misusing the DOJ to pressure the Federal Reserve System into lowering interest rates through pretextual subpoenas. The complaint asserted seven causes of action, including breach of fiduciary duty claims, aiding and abetting claims, and legal malpractice allegations. Plaintiff sought declaratory relief, disgorgement of compensation, compensatory and punitive damages, and attorney's fees.

This case is ongoing.

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Summary Authors

Ian Gibson (6/11/2026)

People

For PACER's information on parties and their attorneys, see: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/73212696/parties/bates-v-trump/

Judge(s)

Chutkan, Tanya Sue (District of Columbia)

Attorney for Plaintiff

BATES, JEREMY (District of Columbia)

Attorney for Defendant

Torres, Amanda (District of Columbia)

Judge(s)

Chutkan, Tanya Sue (District of Columbia)

Attorney for Plaintiff

BATES, JEREMY (District of Columbia)

Attorney for Defendant

Torres, Amanda (District of Columbia)

Attorney Contact Information via CourtListener

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Documents in the Clearinghouse

	Document
1 1:26-cv-01328	Derivative Complaint	April 19, 2026	April 19, 2026 Complaint

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Docket

See docket on RECAP: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/73212696/bates-v-trump/

Last updated June 15, 2026, 3:15 a.m.

ECF Number	Description	Date	Link Date / Link
1	COMPLAINT against JEREMY BATES with Jury Demand ( Filing fee $ 405 receipt number ADCDC-12368926) filed by JEREMY BATES. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit Ex A - Superseding Indictment in Espionage Act case, # 2 Exhibit Ex B - House Judiciary Committee letters to General Bondi, # 3 Exhibit Ex C - In re Grand Jury Subpoenas opinions, # 4 Civil Cover Sheet, # 5 Summons, # 6 Summons, # 7 Summons, # 8 Summons, # 9 Summons)(Bates, Jeremy) (Entered: 04/19/2026) 1 Exhibit Ex A - Superseding Indictment in Espionage Act case View on PACER 2 Exhibit Ex B - House Judiciary Committee letters to General Bondi View on PACER 3 Exhibit Ex C - In re Grand Jury Subpoenas opinions View on PACER 4 Civil Cover Sheet View on PACER 5 Summons View on PACER 6 Summons View on PACER 7 Summons View on PACER 8 Summons View on PACER 9 Summons View on PACER	April 19, 2026	April 19, 2026 Clearinghouse
2	SUMMONS (5) Issued Electronically as to All Defendants, U.S. Attorney and U.S. Attorney General (Attachments: # 1 Notice and Consent)(gsk) (Entered: 04/20/2026)	April 20, 2026	April 20, 2026
	Case Assigned/Reassigned	April 20, 2026	April 20, 2026
	Case Assigned to Judge Tanya S. Chutkan. (gsk)	April 20, 2026	April 20, 2026
3	MOTION for Alternative Service on individual Defendants and on Nominal Defendant, MOTION for Briefing Schedule as to anticipated motion to dismiss on jurisdictional, standing, and statutory grounds, MOTION Special service, set briefing schedule, correct list of parties on electronic docket, and such other and further etc., MOTION for Service by U.S. Marshals or another person appointed by the Court by JEREMY BATES. (Attachments: # 1 Declaration Declaration of Jeremy Bates in support, # 2 Memorandum in Support, # 3 Text of Proposed Order)(Bates, Jeremy) (Entered: 04/26/2026)	April 26, 2026	April 26, 2026
4	NOTICE of Appearance by Amanda Torres on behalf of PAMELA BONDI, JEANINE F. PIRRO, DONALD J. TRUMP (Torres, Amanda) (Entered: 05/15/2026)	May 15, 2026	May 15, 2026
5	DECLARATION of Jeremy Bates as to E-Mailing and Mailing by JEREMY BATES. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit A - e-mail chain with Civil Process Clerk (April 22 & 24, 2026), # 2 Exhibit B - USPS receipt for Priority Mail Express to U.S. Attorney General, # 3 Exhibit C - USPS receipt for Priority Mail Express to U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia)(Bates, Jeremy) (Entered: 05/22/2026) 1 Exhibit A - e-mail chain with Civil Process Clerk (April 22 & 24, 2026) View on PACER 2 Exhibit B - USPS receipt for Priority Mail Express to U.S. Attorney General View on PACER 3 Exhibit C - USPS receipt for Priority Mail Express to U.S. Attorney for the Dist View on PACER	May 22, 2026	May 22, 2026 RECAP
6	MOTION to Disqualify Counsel (the United States Department of Justice and all its attorneys) from representing Defendants, MOTION for Certification for interlocatory appeal of controlling questions of law by JEREMY BATES. (Attachments: # 1 Memorandum in Support of Motion of Plaintiff Jeremy Bates, Derivatively on Behalf of the United States, To Disqualify the United States Department of Justice from Representing Defendants, # 2 Text of Proposed Order)(Bates, Jeremy) (Entered: 05/25/2026) 1 Memorandum in Support of Motion of Plaintiff Jeremy Bates, Derivatively on Behal View on RECAP 2 Text of Proposed Order View on PACER	May 25, 2026	May 25, 2026
7	Consent MOTION for Extension of Time to File Opposition to Motion to Disqualify by UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order)(Torres, Amanda) (Entered: 06/08/2026)	June 8, 2026	June 8, 2026
	Order on Motion for Extension of Time to	June 11, 2026	June 11, 2026
	MINUTE ORDER: Defendants' 7 Consent Motion for Extension of Time is GRANTED. Defendants may respond to Plaintiff's 6 Motion to Disqualify Counsel by 6/22/2026. Signed by Judge Tanya S. Chutkan on 6/11/2026. (lcjb)	June 11, 2026	June 11, 2026