Federal judge voids Trump's IRS settlement and sanctions his attorneys
U.S. District Judge Kathleen Williams ruled on July 14, 2026 that President Trump's $10 billion lawsuit against the IRS was filed for an 'improper purpose' and voided the settlement agreement reached in May. The settlement had included a $1.8 billion 'Anti-Weaponization Fund' and a provision permanently barring the IRS from pursuing tax claims against Trump, his sons, and affiliated companies. Williams referred attorney Alejandro Brito to the Florida Bar for potential disciplinary action and banned attorney Daniel Epstein from practicing in the Southern District of Florida for at least a year.
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Broad agreement on what happened
Outlets across the spectrum land in roughly the same place: the shared language is highlighted.
“'The judge is pissed': Elie Honig on ruling Trump sought to 'manipulate the judicial process' with IRS lawsuit”CNN CNN LEFT
“A Federal Judge Slams Trump's IRS Lawsuit As a Pretext for Delivering a Phony 'Settlement'”R Reason RIGHT-CENTER
“Judge blasts Trump's IRS lawsuit as filed for 'improper purpose,' recommends attorney discipline” · BBC, Politico, AP News, PBS NewsHour, Reuters, The Hill, Bloomberg