Former IRS officials call for judge to scrutinize Trump’s immunity from audits
A group of former Internal Revenue Service and Justice Department officials are asking a federal judge to review a controversial settlement granted to President Donald Trump and his family. comprehensive immunity From past tax audits.
They claimed the deal would solve Trump’s problems 10 billion dollar lawsuit The lawsuit against the IRS for leaking tax documents in exchange for immunity from past audits was “unprecedented and breathtakingly inappropriate.”
U.S. District Judge Kathleen Williams reopened the case last month after a group of 35 former federal judges claimed to have reached a settlement that included both immunity and the $1.8 billion the Justice Department has now wasted.Anti-Armament Fund” — was misleading and “fraud in court.”
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In a joint brief filed Monday, former officials argued that the audit provision was illegal and should be reviewed.
“The President of the United States, like all other Americans, is responsible for paying the taxes he owes. If the Immunity Order is allowed to remain in effect, it would encompass two separate tax laws, one for President Trump, his family and ‘dependents,’ and the other for all other Americans,” the group of former officials wrote. “It opens the door for President Trump and future presidents to avoid having their taxes audited while in office to absolve themselves of crimes and favor individuals.”
The group, which includes a former IRS commissioner, a former Justice Department tax division chief, a former deputy attorney general and a former national taxpayer advocate, claimed the immunity agreement violated the Domestic Emoluments Clause and provisions of the tax code designed to prevent authorities from interfering with audits.
They also argued that Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche, the only official who signed the tax audit addendum, lacked the authority to resolve the audits because the matters were never referred to the Justice Department for potential investigation.
Jacquelyn Martin/AP Photo – PHOTO: President Donald Trump speaks during the executive order signing in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington on June 22, 2026.
“Acting AG Blanche resolved a weak, statute-barred, unauthorized disclosure claim that gifted President Trump with a grossly disproportionate tax and non-tax liability exemption,” the lawsuit stated.
While the Justice Department abandoned plans to create a controversial fund that could compensate Jan. 6 defendants who attacked law enforcement at the Capitol, the oversight provision remained intact despite political backlash. Last week, Blanche also refused to sign a declaration that she would never pursue the “Arms Fight Fund.”
The sweeping IRS immunity provision said the Justice Department was “forever barred and barred” from pursuing any allegations “including tax returns” involving Trump, his family or any “affiliates.”
“This Immunity Order sends a sad and dangerous message that powerful people can use their influence not only to avoid review of their tax returns, but also to elevate themselves above the laws that govern all other Americans,” the group said in its amicus brief. It was said.
Lawyers for the president and his two eldest sons argued in a filing earlier this month that the court lacks jurisdiction to review the agreement.
“Movants must be more than just making a transparent political appeal aimed at drawing the press’s attention to a perfectly viable government deal that they cannot knowingly object to,” the lawyers said. he wrote.
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Lawyers for the group of retired judges who wanted the case to be reopened argued that there was “clear and convincing” evidence that the court was deceived by Trump, who not only filed the case but was also responsible for the organizations he sued.
“There is reason to believe that the parties are using this litigation and subsequent settlement to cover up betrayal of the lead Plaintiff, who also controls the Defendants. Plaintiffs are now seeking to complete this deeply troubling process by insisting that the Court can do nothing,” they wrote.
