Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News Editorials & Other Articles General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

LetMyPeopleVote

(184,919 posts)
20. MaddowBlog-Judge slams Trump-IRS 'settlement,' refers attorney for possible disciplinary actions
Mon Jul 13, 2026, 05:43 PM
Monday

The president probably thought his $10 billion case against the IRS was over. That was before a federal court found his lawyers acted in “bad faith.”

A federal judge set out to investigate “grievous allegations” in the Trump-IRS case.

She apparently did not like what she discovered, concluding that Trump and his lawyers acted “in bad faith” and filed a civil suit “for an improper purpose.”
www.ms.now/rachel-maddo...

Steve Benen (@stevebenen.com) 2026-07-13T17:37:12.625Z

https://www.ms.now/rachel-maddow-show/maddowblog/trump-irs-settlement-sanctions-lawyers-leaked-tax-returns

By now, Donald Trump has probably grown accustomed to legal setbacks in court, though his case against the IRS has started to backfire in ways the president didn’t see coming. The Associated Press reported:

A federal judge said Monday that President Donald Trump’s lawsuit against the IRS over his leaked tax returns was filed for an “improper purpose” as she referred attorneys for disciplinary actions.

The ruling from U.S. District Judge Kathleen Williams amounts to a stinging rebuke of the Republican president’s lawsuit, characterizing it as an exercise in self-dealing in which he sued an entity that is effectively under his control
.


.....More than a month later, she apparently did not like what she discovered, concluding that Trump and his lawyers acted “in bad faith” and filed a civil suit “for an improper purpose.”

The nature of the suit itself and the conduct of the Parties and counsel from its filing make plain that this was an attempt to use the Court to provide some legitimacy to an agreement to confer immunity to people and entities affiliated with the President and to earmark billions of dollars from American taxpayers to redress grievances not defined in the law,” Williams wrote.

The judge also prohibited the parties from even referring to it as a “settlement.”

Just as notably, as CNBC reported, Williams “referred Trump’s lawyer in the lawsuit, Alejandro Brito, to the Florida bar for consideration on whether Brito should be disciplined in light of the findings in the new order.” The judge also “ordered that a copy of her ruling be mailed to the State Bar of New York, of which Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche is a member, as well as to the District of Columbia Bar, of which Associate Attorney General Stanley Woodward is a member.”

I am looking forward to Blanche's confirmation hearing. One of the questions may be to find out if a disbarred attorney can be Attorney General

Recommendations

0 members have recommended this reply (displayed in chronological order):

Federal judge in Florida has released a scathing takedown of Trump's slush fund, LetMyPeopleVote Monday #1
Judge blasts Trump's IRS lawsuit as filed for 'improper purpose,' recommends attorney discipline LetMyPeopleVote Monday #2
Link to the order: Ocelot II Monday #3
Thank you for this... ultralite001 Monday #17
Williams makes clear in a footnote that she lacks the power to prevent DOJ and Trump from entering into a private deal. mahatmakanejeeves Monday #4
A private deal between Trump and the DOJ would be a crime. Martin68 Monday #9
It seems everyone lacks the power to prevent Trump from robbing us blind. sop Monday #12
The Judge referred Blanche, another DOJ asshole attorney and a private attorney to the various bar associations LetMyPeopleVote Monday #5
Ed Exley and Rollo Tomasi BaronChocula Monday #6
Fantastic movie! ColoringFool Monday #14
had to watch it several times to get the facts straight BaronChocula Monday #19
MaddowBlog-Judge questions whether Trump can sue his own administration for $10 billion LetMyPeopleVote Monday #7
Well...duh! Nice to have a judge who is sane and knowledgeable about the law. Martin68 Monday #8
Excellent! Bayard Monday #10
Trump trying to manipulate the judicial process? ShazzieB Monday #11
That is the face of evil right there, people. Those eyes are cruel. ColoringFool Monday #13
"Tyrant Believes Nation's Money is HIS Money!" 70sEraVet Monday #15
Chump sues his own government, loses, and takes the money from Uncle Sam FakeNoose Monday #16
Great reading... ultralite001 Monday #18
MaddowBlog-Judge slams Trump-IRS 'settlement,' refers attorney for possible disciplinary actions LetMyPeopleVote Monday #20
One good judge in bizarro world mdbl Monday #21
Trump got his hand slapped while reaching in the cookie jar. Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin Monday #22
Trump Never Said WHERE He Was Going To Drain The Swamp DrFunkenstein Monday #23
For the thread: Lasher Monday #24
I've heard segments of the ruling read on MSNOW. A brilliant and eloquent ruling! yellow dahlia Monday #25
Latest Discussions»Latest Breaking News»Judge: Trump sought to 'm...»Reply #20