Trump files notice to appeal judge's ruling on $10 billion IRS lawsuit
President Donald Trump has filed a notice of appeal after a federal judge ruled that his $10 billion suit against the IRS was filed for an improper purpose, a decision that is tied to ongoing disputes over the Justice Department’s anti-weaponization settlement.
President Donald Trump and his sons filed a notice on Friday to appeal a July 13 decision by U.S. District Judge Kathleen Williams that the $10 billion lawsuit against the Internal Revenue Service was filed for an “improper purpose.” The judge said the suit was intended to “manipulate the judicial process” rather than protect legal rights.
The ruling also addressed a settlement in which the Justice Department created a $1.8 billion fund described as an “anti-weaponization” measure, which barred the government from pursuing tax claims against Trump, his family and the Trump Organization. The judge ordered sanctions against acting Attorney General Todd Blanche, Associate Attorney General Stanley Woodward, and suggested the Florida Bar consider disciplinary action against attorney Alejandro Brito.
A spokesperson for Trump’s legal team argued that the IRS “wrongly allowed a rogue, politically-motivated employee to leak private and confidential information” about the president and his businesses, which was later disseminated widely.
The case is linked to a dispute between two Republican senators and the Justice Department over the settlement, which has delayed a Senate vote on Blanche’s nomination for attorney general. Senators John Cornyn and Thom Tillis have asked the department to terminate the anti-weaponization fund and limit the audit-protection agreement before they will support the nomination.
The IRS has not responded to requests for comment on the pending appeal.