The Department of Justice released a settlement addendum Tuesday permanently barring the IRS from auditing the past tax returns of President Donald Trump and his adult sons, just one day after the administration unveiled a $1.776 billion “Anti-Weaponization Fund” geared toward alleged victims of government abuse.Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche signed the one-page order, which states the IRS “releases, waives, acquits” any pending claims against Trump, his family, or the Trump Organization and is “forever barred and precluded” from pursuing claims tied to tax returns filed before Monday’s settlement agreement.The addendum stems from Trump’s now-dismissed $10 billion lawsuit against the IRS over the leak of his confidential tax records during the Biden administration. In exchange for dismissing the suit, the DOJ agreed to establish a new compensation fund aimed at individuals who allege they were unfairly targeted by prior administrations.
The settlement also sidesteps scrutiny from a federal judge who recently questioned whether Trump and the DOJ were truly adversarial parties, a requirement for maintaining the lawsuit.
A DOJ spokesperson defended the agreement Tuesday, saying the waiver language was standard settlement practice.
