Republican senators start to question Trump’s audit immunity deal

Key Points:

• Several Senate Republicans have expressed concerns about the Justice Department's recent agreement granting President Trump and his family immunity from IRS audits or prosecution related to past tax filings, with some opposing the audit protection outright.
• Senator John Cornyn is withholding support for Trump's attorney general nominee, Todd Blanche, until he receives more clarity on the audit immunity deal, particularly whether it applies only retrospectively or also to future audits of past filings.
• Other GOP senators, including Bill Cassidy, Susan Collins, James Lankford, and Lisa Murkowski, have also raised questions about the scope and implications of the audit immunity, with some calling for amendments to repeal it and urging further scrutiny by relevant Senate committees.
• The audit immunity agreement was part of a broader $1.8 billion settlement fund intended to compensate individuals alleging unjust federal prosecution, but the Trump administration has since distanced itself from the fund while maintaining the audit protection.
• The Justice Department is working to address senators' concerns and arrange briefings, while a federal judge has reopened the IRS case amid allegations of potential court misrepresentation during the settlement process.