IRS union joins lawsuit challenging Trump audit immunity carve-out
The National Treasury Employees Union has filed an amended suit in Virginia alleging that a settlement granting President Trump and his family immunity from certain IRS audits is unlawful and unconstitutional.
The National Treasury Employees Union, which represents career IRS auditors, filed an amended complaint in the Eastern District of Virginia on Thursday, asserting that a carve-out granting President Donald Trump and his relatives immunity from specific tax audits violates the Constitution. The lawsuit contends that the settlement, approved by acting Attorney General Todd Blanche, would give the president and his affiliates a benefit not available to other Americans.
The case builds on earlier litigation that sought to block a $1.8 billion fund intended for individuals who claimed they were victims of alleged political weaponization, a fund that a federal judge temporarily halted in May. The union’s filing argues that the audit immunity provision is unlawful and seeks to prevent its implementation.
"We are honored to represent brave IRS employees in this first-of-its-kind case challenging the unlawful scheme," said Skye Perryman, president and CEO of Democracy Forward, the organization that initiated the original lawsuit.
Perryman added that the lawsuit also continues to challenge the larger anti-weaponization fund, which she described as potentially benefiting individuals involved in the Jan. 6 Capitol attack. The Justice Department has not commented on the amended filing.
Todd Blanche’s nomination to lead the Justice Department remains pending before the full Senate after a recent committee vote. Two Republican senators previously raised concerns about the anti-weaponization fund but later reached an agreement with Blanche to end the fund.