WASHINGTON — A notable coalition of former federal judges is urging a court to revisit President Trump’s recently settled lawsuit against the IRS, which concluded last week with the establishment of a $1.776 billion anti-weaponization fund.
On Wednesday evening, 35 ex-judges filed a compelling motion requesting relief, criticizing the $10 billion lawsuit settlement and voicing apprehensions about potential “manipulation” by the Trump administration.
“The so-called ‘settlement’ disclosed publicly after the court’s dismissal of this case raises serious issues regarding the parties’ honesty with the court, potentially manipulating the judicial system, and thus jeopardizing public trust in justice administration,” the judges stated.
This motion was submitted to Miami federal Judge Kathleen Williams, who consented to closing the case last week following Trump’s request for a voluntary dismissal. The former judges are urging Williams to invoke a rule that would allow the case to be reopened for a thorough examination of the settlement terms.
“It is common for plaintiffs to dismiss cases without noting a settlement. This motion is baseless, and the agreement is entirely proper,” a Department of Justice spokesperson informed The Post.
Trump initiated the lawsuit against the IRS in January, accusing the agency of inadequately safeguarding his personal information.
Former IRS contractor Charles Littlejohn was sentenced to five years behind bars in January 2024 for leaking Trump’s tax returns and data on other billionaires to the New York Times and ProPublica.
On May 18, the DOJ announced a settlement in which victims of alleged government weaponization could apply for relief from a $1.776 billion fund.
The agreement, which Trump denied negotiating but praised nonetheless, drew bipartisan outrage — triggering a screamfest in a Senate Republican conference meeting last week and prompting the chamber to break for recess early without passing a funding bill for Immigration and Customs Enforcement as well as Customs and Border Protection.
“The parties have used this lawsuit … to allow a ‘commission’ controlled by the President to dole out
$1.776 billion in taxpayer dollars without constitutional or congressional authority to do so, and
to confer unlawful private benefits to the President and his family,” the judges claimed.
“And the parties have plainly tried to shield this conduct from necessary judicial scrutiny.”
Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche, Trump’s former defense attorney, has claimed he will appoint five commissioners to oversee the fund and denied that the president will be involved in that process.
Blanche has also insisted that individuals who committed violent crimes won’t be eligible for the money, but hasn’t ruled out figures associated with the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol riot getting relief.
Trump, his sons, and his real estate empire are automatically barred from getting awards under the deal, according to Blanche.
The 35 judges were backed by Democracy Defenders, a self-described non-partisan group co-founded by Norm Eisen, who worked as co-counsel for the House Judiciary Committee on Trump’s first impeachment in 2020.
