Mike Johnson Dismisses Question on Trump’s $10 Billion IRS Settlement

4 articles · Updated · Mother Jones · May 13

Mike Johnson brushed aside a question about the Justice Department potentially settling Donald Trump’s lawsuit against the IRS for $10 billion, saying oversight of DOJ was “not in my purview.”
At a Tuesday Police Week press conference, the House speaker said he had not looked into whether a settlement by an executive branch agency under Trump posed a conflict of interest and told reporters to ask the administration instead.
The exchange spotlighted scrutiny over whether taxpayer money could be used to resolve a case brought by the sitting president against the federal government.
Johnson’s response also underscored a broader criticism that Congress is yielding oversight of Trump’s actions even as Republicans have backed cuts to domestic programs in the name of curbing fraud and abuse.

If tax leaks revealed minimal tax payments, what is the basis for a multi-billion dollar government settlement?

What are the legal implications of a President suing government agencies that he ultimately controls?