11th Circuit Denies Relief for Trump Lawyers, Upholds Sanctions in Politically Charged IRS Case
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A three-judge panel of the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals refused to block sanctions on Donald Trump's attorneys, leaving in place a controversial district court order that restricts discussion of a disputed IRS settlement.
In a move that many see as further evidence of the judiciary’s bias against conservatives, the Atlanta-based 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals on Tuesday denied a request by President Trump’s lawyers and the Justice Department to suspend sanctions imposed by U.S. District Judge Kathleen Williams. These sanctions stemmed from a $10 billion lawsuit Trump filed against the IRS, a case that sought to expose government overreach and protect the rights of American taxpayers. Judge Williams, whose ruling many conservatives view as politically motivated, claimed the settlement was improperly collusive because Trump, as president, oversaw the agencies he sued. Her order referred Trump’s personal attorney, Alejandro Brito, to Florida disciplinary authorities and banned Trump, his adult sons, and his company from accurately describing the agreement as a court settlement or referencing its terms in future proceedings.
Trump’s legal team and the Justice Department argued that these restrictions were a blatant violation of First Amendment free-speech rights, but the appellate panel brushed aside these concerns. The court ruled that the referral of Brito was not a final order subject to appeal and that the limitations on referencing the settlement were supposedly narrowly tailored, dismissing legitimate constitutional arguments.
"The president's lawsuit against the IRS was an appropriate means to hold those who wrong America and Americans accountable," a spokesperson for Trump’s legal team stated, emphasizing the importance of challenging government misconduct.
The Justice Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The case began when Trump sued the IRS for failing to adequately protect his tax records during his first term. In May, the parties reached an agreement to dismiss the lawsuit in exchange for immunity on past tax claims and a proposed $1.8 billion fund for allies—a provision that was ultimately dropped after bipartisan opposition, further highlighting the political pressures at play.
The appellate court noted that neither Trump’s lawyers nor the Justice Department provided evidence to demonstrate that their litigation conduct was non-collusive, a standard that critics argue is selectively enforced against Trump and his associates.