Trump's Corrupt 'Settlement' With the IRS Hits Two Judicial Roadblocks

President Donald Trump's settlement of his lawsuit against the IRS faced two significant setbacks in federal court on Friday. In the Eastern District of Virginia, Judge Leonie Brinkema temporarily barred the Justice Department from allocating money to the $1.8 billion "Anti-Weaponization Fund" described in the May 18 agreement. In the Southern District of Florida, Judge Kathleen Williams, who had closed Trump's case after he dropped the lawsuit, ordered briefing on whether the settlement is "a product of collusion" and "a fraud on the Court." These rulings came in response to lawsuits filed by former federal prosecutors and 35 former federal judges who argue the settlement is illegal, unconstitutional, and creates a "slush fund" to benefit the president's allies without congressional authorization. The settlement, which includes an apology from the IRS and sweeping immunity from civil or criminal liability, was criticized for its lack of connection to the original claims and the conflicts of interest inherent in the lawsuit, which pitted Trump against agencies he oversees. The former judges noted that the settlement was never submitted for review and that the parties' actions suggested they were attempting to shield the distribution of taxpayer money from judicial scrutiny.

(Source：Google News)