A bipartisan coalition of 35 former federal judges filed a motion Wednesday seeking to reopen President Trump's lawsuit against the Internal Revenue Service, arguing the hastily concluded settlement warrants scrutiny for potential fraud.
The judges targeted Judge Kathleen M. Williams, who closed the case last week after Trump voluntarily dismissed his suit. They asked her to invoke a procedural rule allowing her to set aside her judgment and examine the deal's terms, which have drawn fire from multiple quarters since emerging publicly.
In their filing, submitted in Federal District Court in Miami, the former judges characterized the settlement as raising alarm about whether parties were candid with the court. "The purported 'settlement' that was publicly disclosed after this court dismissed this matter raises profound questions about the parties' candor toward the court and manipulation of the judicial system, which threatens to undermine confidence in the administration of justice," their lawyers wrote.
The agreement produced two major outcomes: a $1.8 billion fund potentially available to Trump allies claiming they suffered "weaponization" by federal agencies, and tax benefits for the president, his family, and his business interests. Both have become targets of legal challenges questioning their validity.
The judges argued Trump exploited his IRS lawsuit to obtain what they called "unlawful private benefits" while simultaneously preventing meaningful judicial review. By voluntarily dismissing the suit, they contend, Trump short-circuited Judge Williams' ability to examine the settlement terms directly.
Capitol Hill proved no friendlier to the arrangement. Senate Republicans expressed significant reservations about redirecting taxpayer funds into a compensation pool that could potentially benefit Capitol riot defendants and other Trump supporters. The skepticism suggests the fund may face legislative obstacles regardless of the courts' outcome.
The Justice Department did not respond to requests for comment on the former judges' filing.
Author Sarah Mitchell: "When a bipartisan group of federal judges thinks a sitting president's settlement stinks, that's a serious problem for the administration's legal credibility."
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