DOJ settlement prevents future tax investigations of Trump and his family

A one-page waiver states the IRS is “forever barred and precluded” from prosecuting or pursuing any and all claims related to a plaintiff and affiliated individuals. An expanded settlement created a $1.776 billion fund to compensate people targeted by political “weaponization” or who faced prosecutions for political aims. The expanded settlement was not included in an earlier nine-page agreement released previously and was not signed by the same parties. The waiver was signed by Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche, while the earlier agreement was signed by the IRS CEO, Associate Attorney General Stanley Woodward, and Trump’s legal counsel. The settlement followed Trump dropping a suit against the IRS after confidential tax returns were leaked to media. Critics said it was unusual for the president to seek damages from an agency he controls.

"The one-page document says the IRS is “forever barred and precluded” from prosecuting or pursuing any and all claims related to the plaintiff or affiliated individuals. The expanded settlement was not included in the Justice Department's initial nine-page agreement released Monday, nor was it signed by the same parties. Tuesday's waiver is signed by Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche, who previously served as Trump's personal lawyer in his cases including his New York criminal fraud trial."

"Instead of receiving a direct payout, attorneys for the president settled to create a $1.776 billion fund to compensate those who were targets of political “weaponization,” or who faced prosecutions for political aims. The decision sparked outrage from critics who said it was unusual for the president to pursue damages from an agency he controls. The settlement was reached after Trump dropped his suit against the IRS after a former contractor leaked his confidential tax returns to members of the media."

"Most federal officials, including the president, cannot stop the IRS from pursuing specific investigations. However, the attorney general appears to be excluded from that restriction. Monday's agreement was signed by the CEO of the IRS, Associate Attorney General Stanley Woodward and Trump's legal counsel. The DOJ did not immediately respond to Axios' Tuesday afternoon request for comment."

Read at Axios