"The White House announced on Monday that a settlement had been reached between the US Justice Department and the Internal Revenue Agency (IRS) over President Donald Trump’s lawsuit, in which he sought a $10 billion (8.5 billion) from the tax agency over a leak of his tax returns. Trump, along with his adult sons Donald Trump Jr. and Eric Trump, and their business group, the Trump Organization, had sued the IRS in January, blaming the agency for not doing enough to prevent a former contractor from leaking their tax information to media outlets."
"Under the settlement, the Trump administration agreed to drop the $10 billion lawsuit in exchange for the creation of a $1.76 billion “Anti-Weaponization Fund,” which would be used by those it says were victims of “lawfare” and prosecutions under former President Joe Biden’s administration. “The machinery of government should never be weaponized against any American, and it is this Department’s intention to make right the wrongs that were previously done while ensuring this never happens again,” Justice Department Acting Secretary Todd Blanche said in a statement."
"Trump is expected to receive an apology from the IRS over the tax returns leak, but he will not receive direct financial compensation. Under the agreement, Blanche is directed to appoint four of the five members of a commission that will decide the merits of claims submitted to the fund. So far, the Justice Department has not said how it will determine who receives payout."
"The leak occurred during his first term, Trump filed the lawsuit against the IRS after being sworn in for a second term, effectively suing an agency he oversees. Critics of the IRS lawsuit and the resulting settlement said the move is an attempt to direct taxpayer money to Trump and his allies."
The White House announced a settlement between the US Justice Department and the IRS over President Donald Trump’s lawsuit seeking $10 billion related to a leak of his tax returns. Trump, his adult sons, and the Trump Organization sued the IRS in January, alleging the agency failed to prevent a former contractor from leaking their tax information to media outlets. The contractor pleaded guilty in 2023 and received a five-year prison sentence. The settlement requires dropping the lawsuit in exchange for creating a $1.76 billion Anti-Weaponization Fund for alleged victims of “lawfare” and prosecutions tied to the Biden administration. Trump is expected to receive an apology from the IRS, but no direct financial compensation. The Justice Department will appoint four of five commission members to evaluate claims, without yet stating how payouts will be determined.
Read at www.dw.com
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