Donald Trump is considering dropping a $10 billion lawsuit against the Internal Revenue Service in exchange for creation of a $1.7 billion compensation fund for people he claims were wrongfully targeted by the Biden administration, according to reports.
The proposed settlement would tap the Judgment Fund, a pool of taxpayer money typically reserved for court-ordered judgments and settlements. Among the more than 1,500 people eligible to receive payments would be participants in the January 6 Capitol riot.
As part of the potential deal, Trump is also seeking a public apology from the IRS for disclosing his personal financial records and a waiver of any future IRS audits of himself, his family, and his businesses. The White House declined to comment when asked about the proposal.
The move represents the latest instance of Trump exerting control over the Justice Department in ways that typically operate independently from the White House, using federal agencies to pursue his own interests.
If the full $10 billion settlement were approved, it would more than double the Trump family's net worth, underscoring the scale of taxpayer exposure from the potential agreement.
Elsewhere in Trump's sphere, at least five people pardoned by the president for their roles in the January 6 attack have since been accused of committing new crimes. The development raises questions about the vetting process for presidential pardons issued en masse.
In Louisiana, Republican Senator Bill Cassidy faces pressure in Saturday's primary elections after Trump backed his opponent. Cassidy had voted to impeach Trump following the Capitol riot, and his political survival will test how durable Trump's party grip remains in deep-red territory.
Kentucky Congressman Thomas Massie is also heading to the ballot after Trump labeled him a "lowlife." The race will serve as another referendum on whether Republican candidates can overcome a presidential enemy designation in their districts.
Meanwhile, Republican Representative Lauren Boebert suggested that Trump may have withheld federal funds for a Colorado drinking water project to punish the state over prosecution of election denier Tina Peters, though she did not provide direct evidence of such a connection.
A Kansas judge temporarily blocked enforcement of the state's ban on gender-transition treatments for minors, preventing the law from taking immediate effect.
Author James Rodriguez: "The scale of using taxpayer money to settle Trump's personal grievances with his own agency sets a troubling precedent for how executive power can be weaponized for self-dealing."
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