Judge Orders Trump to Answer 35 Ex-Judges' Bid to Reopen $1.8 Billion Fund Case
Updated
Updated · The New York Times · Jun 3
Judge Orders Trump to Answer 35 Ex-Judges' Bid to Reopen $1.8 Billion Fund Case
2 articles · Updated · The New York Times · Jun 3
Summary
A federal judge in Florida ordered President Trump to respond to a motion from 35 former federal judges seeking to reopen a case tied to a $1.8 billion fund.
The retired judges argued the settlement was tainted by collusion and fraud, saying the case was used both to compensate Trump allies and shield him from tax audits and liabilities.
The order suggests the court is taking the unusual intervention seriously, giving added weight to allegations that had already circulated more broadly.
The filing also highlights a wider trend of retired judges submitting increasingly forceful briefs against what they describe as unlawful actions by the Trump administration.
Can a secret settlement legally grant a president and his family permanent immunity from tax audits?
Trump’s $1.8 Billion “Anti-Weaponization” Fund Halted: Legal, Political, and Ethical Crisis Over IRS Settlement and Alleged Corruption
Overview
In January 2026, Donald Trump sued the IRS for $10 billion after his tax returns were leaked, blaming a government contractor. Instead of a court battle, Trump abruptly settled the case in May 2026, dismissing his own lawsuit against the government he led. As part of the settlement, $1.8 billion from the federal treasury was set aside to create a controversial 'anti-weaponization' fund, which also granted Trump and his family permanent immunity from IRS audits. The fund, intended for those claiming government 'weaponization,' quickly faced intense legal and political backlash, putting its future in doubt.