A federal judge orders President Donald Trump’s lawyers to respond to allegations that a proposed settlement involving the Internal Revenue Service involved fraud. According to reports, U.S. District Judge Kathleen Williams directs the president’s personal attorneys to address “grievous allegations” that Trump’s deal to create a $1.8 billion fund to resolve his lawsuit against the IRS was the result of “fraud” on the court. The order responds to a request from a group of former federal judges asking that the proceedings be reopened and that the court investigate alleged misconduct by the president.
The judge sets a deadline of June 12 for Trump’s legal team to file a response to the request. The case centers on the terms and legitimacy of the arrangement involving the IRS dispute and the creation of the fund. No determination of wrongdoing is described in the reporting, and the order primarily requires additional briefing and consideration by the court.
