Scott MacFarlane Reports – “Former Federal Tax Officials Call Trump’s Settlement with IRS a “breathtaking” and unlawful deal. A group of former federal tax officials, including a former commissioner of the Internal Revenue Service, are asking a federal judge to intervene and halt President Trump’s immunity deal with the Internal Revenue Service. The sweetheart deal was spawned by Trump’s lawsuit in January against the agency. The lawsuit immediately raised questions about how Trump could conceivably — and lawfully – file a lawsuit against an agency that he helps control. The former federal tax officials, who served in Presidential administrations of both parties, argue the court must halt the immunity order. In a 23-page amicus brief filed Monday in Miami, the former officials argue the immunity deal is “an unprecedented and breathtakingly improper attempt by the President and the Acting Attorney General to bestow broad civil and criminal immunity upon President Trump.” Here’s the filing, which lists the former tax officials.
They also argue that the settlement deal “sends the regrettable and dangerous message that powerful people can wield their influence not only to avoid having their tax returns reviewed at all, but to place themselves above the laws.” The amicus brief also said acting Attorney General Todd Blanche “settled a weak, time-barred unauthorized disclosure claim to give President Trump a vastly disproportionate gift of total immunity.” Judge Kathleen Williams dismissed Trump’s lawsuit last month, at the request of both Trump’s lawyers and the Justice Department, which represents the I.R.S. But a group of 35 former federal judges have asked Williams to re-open the case and investigate whether Team Trump engaged in collusion in filing and settling the case. The former judges are also challenging the slush fund, which emerged from the closed civil case. They declaratively accuse the Trump team of a “corruption.” They argue, “The unique facts before the Court in this case strongly indicate possible corruption of the judicial process and fraud on the court. The unprecedented settlement is evidence of that fraud in this case…”
