Judge says Trump lawsuit against IRS was filed for 'improper purpose'
A federal judge has ruled that a lawsuit filed by Donald Trump against the IRS regarding his tax returns was brought for an 'improper purpose.' The judge criticized the legal strategy as self-dealing and referred one of his lawyers for potential disciplinary action.
Why it matters
The ruling highlights judicial scrutiny over the use of the court system for political or personal gain, specifically regarding executive branch immunity.
Add AP News as your preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. --> Share
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump’s lawsuit against the Internal Revenue Service over his leaked tax returns was filed for an “improper purpose,” a judge said Monday as she referred one of his lawyers for potential disciplinary action and characterized the $10 billion complaint as an exercise in self-dealing.
U.S. District Judge Kathleen Williams accused Trump and his lawyers in a scathing ruling of having manipulated the court system when he sued a federal agency under his control, bypassing a requirement that parties in a lawsuit must have adverse interests. The lawsuit ended in a settlement that granted the president immunity from tax audits and established a $1.776 billion fund to compensate Trump allies who believe they have been unjustly persecuted.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in