Where is Republican outrage over Trump’s $1.8 billion scam labeled a “settlement” of his lawsuit against the IRS? Or his get-out-of-jail-forever pass issued by his former lawyer now serving as acting Attorney General?
The loudest whimper came from Senate Majority Leader John Thune who told reporters he is “not a big fan” of the settlement. House Speaker Mike Johnson just dodged inquiries. No outrage. No promise to investigate.
Sigh, the only official voice of questioning the settlement came from the federal judge overseeing the underlying lawsuit.
U. S. District Judge Kathleen Williams said the Justice Department, “neither submitted nor filed any documents ensuring that the settlement was appropriate where there was an outstanding question as to whether an actual case or controversy existed.” Her comments came as she allowed, as the law requires, Trump and his fellow plaintiffs to walk away from the case.
In January, a chief executive of government too busy to be sued himself, got around to filing suit against government entities “subject to his direction,” the IRS and the U.S. Treasury. He and his sons and his former (?) business sought $10 billion for damages he claimed were caused by an IRS contractor’s leaks of tax returns between 2018 and 2020. The damages, never proven as Judge Williams noted, were to make up for the “embarrassment” and “reputational harm” resulting from published stories and claims of “improprieties” based on the leaks.
On May 18, two days before a pending hearing before Judge Williams, Trump cancelled the lawsuit. Immediately afterward, his former lawyer, acting Attorney General Todd Blanche, announced Trump et al had agreed to a $1.8 billion settlement. Blanche directed the U.S. Treasury to transfer $1,776,000,000 to a newly created “Anti-Weaponization Fund.” The fund is intended for individuals besides Trump et al “who allege harm by prior government conduct.” Note: “allege” not prove. Blanche even indicated that former political contributors could file claims.
A day later came the kicker. Blanche announced an addendum to the settlement that “FOREVER BARRED and PRECLUDED” the U.S. government “from prosecuting or pursuing any and all claims,” including “monetary relief,” that “have been or could have been” asserted by the IRS against Trump, his family, or his businesses.
So, we have a President suing himself (his government) then settling with himself (his Justice Department), giving away $1.8 billion in taxpayers’ money, and no outrage from conservatives. Imagine if this had been Joe Biden.
And, not even a whimper of outrage from conservative voters.
(Note: Several GOP senators did question the fund payout process but not the settlement.)
“Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up” - Galatians 6:9.
Bill Crawford is an author and syndicated columnist from Jackson.
