Judge Williams Refers Trump Lawyer Brito to Florida Bar, Flags 2 DOJ Officials

3 articles · Updated · Fox News · Jul 18

Judge Kathleen Williams formally referred Trump attorney Alejandro Brito to the Florida Bar after finding he advanced a tax-settlement case in bad faith.
Her Monday opinion also ordered the ruling sent to disciplinary authorities already reviewing complaints against Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche and Associate Attorney General Stanley Woodward over conflict concerns tied to the same settlement.
Williams said the settlement improperly shielded Trump, his family and affiliated businesses from certain federal tax audits and claims, and singled out Brito because he signed the complaint that launched the case.
The move drew backlash from lawyers across the political spectrum, including liberal law professor Christian Lee Gonzalez-Rivera, who said judges should not push bar sanctions over debatable losing arguments in high-stakes cases.
The referral could sharpen scrutiny of Blanche and Woodward as bar associations weigh complaints that carry potential license consequences for senior Justice Department officials.