ToplineAn agreement signed on Tuesday expanded President Donald Trump’s controversial settlement with the IRS to include a clause that appears to bar the agency from investigating or prosecuting claims against the president, his family or his businesses.An expanded settlement agreement was signed by acting Attorney General Todd Blanche and posted on the Justice Department’s website on Tuesday.Getty ImagesKey FactsThe agreement was expanded in a short document signed by acting Attorney General Todd Blanche on Tuesday and posted on the Justice Department’s website.The broad clause included at the end of the document says the government is “FOREVER BARRED and PRECLUDED” from investigating or prosecuting claims against Trump, as well as his trusts, family members and “related companies.”The initial settlement agreement announced by the Justice Department did not include any financial reimbursement for the president, instead setting up a $1.8 billion fund to pay out alleged victims of what the Trump administration calls the “weaponization” of the Justice Department during the last administration.However, Trump has frequently complained about being audited by the IRS in years past, and based on past reports could see a financial gain from the IRS dropping its audits.Blanche testified before a Senate subcommittee about the extraordinary settlement agreement on Tuesday, but was not asked about the added clause.Neither the Justice Department nor the IRS returned requests for comment from Forbes on Tuesday afternoon.Surprising FactThe IRS has a policy of automatically auditing the president and vice president every year. However, a report issued by a Democratic-lead House Ways and Means Committee in 2022 found the agency’s audits of the president during his first term were significantly delayed. U.S. code law also prohibits the president and vice president from directing the IRS to “conduct or terminate” an audit against any taxpayer in the U.S. It’s unclear how these laws and rules will impact the settlement agreement.Further ReadingForbesBlanche Denies Trump Helped Create $1.8 Billion Fund—But New Report Suggests IRS Lawyers Opposed SettlingBy Alison DurkeeForbesTrump Gets $1.8 Billion Payday With ‘Anti-Weaponization’ Fund As He Drops IRS CaseBy Alison DurkeeForbesTrump Could Owe $100 Million Over Improper Tax Breaks, Report Says—Latest Financial Threat Even As His Net Worth SoarsBy Brian Bushard
Expanded Trump-IRS Settlement Could Bar Audits of President and Family
An expanded settlement agreement was signed by acting Attorney General Todd Blanche and posted on the Justice Department’s website on Tuesday.










