Judge Denounces Trump’s $1.8 Billion IRS Deal, Threatens Sanctions for DOJ and His Lawyers
Updated
Updated · The Washington Post · Jul 13
Judge Denounces Trump’s $1.8 Billion IRS Deal, Threatens Sanctions for DOJ and His Lawyers
3 articles · Updated · The Washington Post · Jul 13
Summary
Judge Kathleen Williams said Trump’s IRS lawsuit was a sham with no real dispute, accusing both sides of using the court to legitimize a private deal granting tax protections and a proposed $1.8 billion victim fund.
Her order barred Trump’s lawyers and Justice Department officials from citing any part of that resolution in future official proceedings and said disciplinary sanctions could follow.
Williams sent the ruling to attorney disciplinary bodies in New York and Washington, referred Trump lawyer Alejandro Brito to the Florida Bar, and restricted Daniel Epstein’s practice in South Florida.
The deal grew out of Trump’s January suit seeking up to $10 billion over leaked tax returns; the Justice Department later dropped the taxpayer-funded payout fund after bipartisan backlash but had defended separate audit protections for Trump, his sons and affiliated businesses.
The ruling intensifies scrutiny of acting Attorney General Todd Blanche before his Wednesday confirmation hearing, after Williams said his prior congressional testimony about the agreement was misleading or disingenuous.