Filed Date: April 19, 2026
Case Ongoing
Clearinghouse coding in progress
(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.
For PACER's information on parties and their attorneys, see: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/73212696/parties/bates-v-trump/
Chutkan, Tanya Sue (District of Columbia)
BATES, JEREMY (District of Columbia)
See docket on RECAP: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/73212696/bates-v-trump/
Last updated April 23, 2026, 8:21 a.m.
State / Territory:
Case Type(s):
Presidential/Gubernatorial Authority
Special Collection(s):
Trump Administration 2.0: Challenges to the Government
Key Dates
Filing Date: April 19, 2026
Case Ongoing: Yes
Case Details
Other Dockets:
District of District of Columbia 1:26-cv-01328
Available Documents:
Case Summary of Bates v. Trump, Civil Rights Litig. Clearinghouse, https://clearinghouse.net/case/48123/.