Justice Department Bars Future IRS Audits of President Trump

The Justice Department reached a settlement with President Trump that bars the IRS from pursuing any pending tax audits or related matters involving the president and his business. The agreement states the government is "forever barred" from pursuing those cases. It covers tax returns filed before the effective date and extends to all government agencies.

Blanche signed the agreement one day after President Trump agreed to dismiss his $10 billion lawsuit against the IRS. The suit alleged the agency leaked his confidential tax information. The document was released hours after Mr. Blanche appeared on Capitol Hill, though he did not mention the settlement during that appearance.

Democratic Response Democrats criticized the agreement. Oregon Sen.

Ron Wyden, the top Democrat on the Senate Finance Committee, called it a violation of the law that prohibits executive branch interference in IRS audits. He urged future administrations not to honor the deal.

“Not only is this another heinously corrupt act by the most corrupt administration in history; it’s clearly a violation of the law that prohibits interference by executive branch officials in IRS audits.”

President Trump has said he was the victim of targeting by the government. The leak of his tax information occurred during his first term when an anti-Trump IRS contractor gave the data to The New York Times.

Trump broke decades of precedent by refusing to release his tax returns as the GOP nominee in 2016 and later as president. He initially cited an ongoing IRS audit as the reason. Some of his tax returns were obtained by the House and released to the public in 2022.