Trump administration tried to ‘manipulate the judicial process’ with its IRS settlement, judge says

Key Points:

• A federal judge in Florida, U.S. District Judge Kathleen Williams, ruled that President Donald Trump’s lawsuit against the IRS was filed in bad faith and for an improper purpose, accusing it of manipulating the judicial process rather than seeking justice.
• Judge Williams found no real legal dispute in the case, stating there was never adverseness between the parties, and criticized the $1.776 billion fund involved as more of a branding effort than a genuine damage calculation.
• Sanctions were imposed on several individuals involved, including acting Attorney General Todd Blanche, Associate Attorney General Stanley Woodward, and Trump attorney Alejandro Brito, with referrals made to relevant bar associations for possible disciplinary action.
• The judge prohibited Trump and his affiliates from citing or using the disputed “settlement agreement” or its provisions in any official proceedings, emphasizing that the government cannot present the deals as part of a judicial agreement.
• Trump’s legal team defended the lawsuit as a response to leaks of confidential tax information by a politically motivated IRS employee, while government spokespeople have not commented on the ruling.