The RecordExhibit 91
Suing his own IRS, then settling for audit immunity
Ruled unlawful means: A court ruled against it. Some rulings are on appeal.
Trump sued the IRS over a 2019 leak of his tax information, and his own administration settled: a $1.8 billion 'anti-weaponization' fund plus immunity from audits for Trump, his family and his businesses.
What happened
Democrats said the fund would reward allies including Jan. 6 rioters. It was dropped after bipartisan outcry, but Acting AG Todd Blanche said the audit immunity would stand.
Where it stands
In July 2026 Judge Kathleen Williams ruled the lawsuit a bad-faith attempt to manipulate the courts, barred anyone from relying on the settlement, ordered sanctions and referred Trump's lawyer to the Florida Bar. Trump and the Justice Department appealed. On Sept. 29, 2026, a three-judge panel of the 11th Circuit refused to put the sanctions on hold while the appeal continues, finding that Trump's side had not made a strong showing that her findings of collusion and bad faith were clearly wrong. That was a ruling on a request for a pause, not a final decision: the appeal itself is still pending, and the sanctions stay in force in the meantime.
The administration's side
Trump's position is that the leak violated his rights and that he was owed damages. On appeal, his side argues that the judge's limits on how the deal can be described violate the First Amendment.
Sources
Permanent link: https://unredactedrecord.com/e/irs/