Where is Republican outrage over Trump’s $1.8 billion scam labeled a “settlement” of his lawsuit against the IRS? Or his get-out-of-jail-forever pass issued by his former lawyer now serving as acting Attorney General?
The loudest whimper came from Senate Majority Leader John Thune who told reporters he is “not a big fan” of the settlement. House Speaker Mike Johnson just dodged inquiries. No outrage. No promise to investigate.
Sigh, the only official voice of questioning the settlement came from the federal judge overseeing the underlying lawsuit.
U. S. District Judge Kathleen Williams said the Justice Department, “neither submitted nor filed any documents ensuring that the settlement was appropriate where there was an outstanding question as to whether an actual case or controversy existed.” Her comments came as she allowed, as the law requires, Trump and his fellow plaintiffs to walk away from the case.
In January, a chief executive of government too busy to be sued himself, got around to filing suit against government entities “subject to his direction,” the IRS and the U.S. Treasury. He and his sons and his former (?) business sought $10 billion for damages he claimed were caused by an IRS contractor’s leaks of tax returns between 2018 and 2020. The damages, never proven as Judge Williams noted, were to make up for the “embarrassment” and “reputational harm” resulting from published stories and claims of “improprieties” based on the leaks.
On May 18, two days before a pending hearing before Judge Williams, Trump cancelled the lawsuit. Immediately afterward, his former lawyer, acting Attorney General Todd Blanche, announced Trump et al had agreed to a $1.8 billion settlement. Blanche directed the U.S. Treasury to transfer $1,776,000,000 to a newly created “Anti-Weaponization Fund.” The fund is intended for individuals besides Trump et al “who allege harm by prior government conduct.” Note: “allege” not prove. Blanche even indicated that former political contributors could file claims.
A day later came the kicker. Blanche announced an addendum to the settlement that “FOREVER BARRED and PRECLUDED” the U.S. government “from prosecuting or pursuing any and all claims,” including “monetary relief”, that “have been or could have been” asserted by the IRS against Trump, his family, or his businesses.
So, we have a President suing himself (his government) then settling with himself (his Justice Department), giving away $1.8 billion in taxpayers’ money, and no outrage from conservatives. Imagine if this had been Joe Biden!
And, not even a whimper of outrage from conservative voters.
(Note: Several GOP senators did question the fund payout process but not the settlement.)
“Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up” - Galatians 6:9.
Crawford is an author and syndicated columnist from North Jackson.
12 comments:
The column is somewhat mistaken. National Review opposed it several times this week. Erick Erickson opposed it. Erickson reported in his newsletters a bunch of Republican Senators gave Blanche hell over it in a private meeting. If they try to get it through Congress, it will probably fail.
As a conservative and Republican, I emailed our senators and representative to voice my objection to the settlement. I hope others do the same.
These Republicans are too cowardly to be ashamed of themselves. They are plainly more interested in retaining office than asserting the authority of congress or serving the interests of the nation. It is appalling that they have become little better than Trump’s poodles, evidently not minding being so demeaned. Nero would approve of this.
With few exceptions, our elected officials are there to enrich themselves and their families. The corruption is rampant and now the president doesn’t even try to hide it.
A billion here, a billion there, pretty soon you're talking real money.
Cult members often act irrationally and against their own goals and interests.
WSJ editorial page opposed it as well.
At the moment it doesn’t appear it will get approved. DC is a cesspool where almost everyone there is self serving.
"There's no way we're gonna be in a position to fund $1.5 billion for an anti-fraud division when we've got this bogus payout pot for punks. Whoever did it should be fired."
Senator Tom Tiillis
Kingfish—stop acting like some editorials and a couple of complaints by some politicians (who will inevitably vote the way Trump wants them to vote by the end of the day) is meaningful opposition in any sense of the word. Trump knows he can get away with stuff like this because your party bends over and takes it from him at every turn. This is y’all’s fault, plain and simple.
Have the midterms you deserve…
Our current Congress seems more afraid of Trump than of the voters. And some no doubt hope for one party (GOP) absolute control of government. We will see if there are enough Patriots left in the GOP. Trump is not joking when he suggests he will continue to be President in 2028. We'll have some suggestion that it's two " consecutive" terms (it's not). This isn't a popularity contest people, or a game. I vote for the most qualified person and it's time we stopped voting on party loyalty. That's just lazy and ridiculous.
Y’all voted for this. We tried to tell you. The famine, economy, blasphemy, and lawfare is all on you magatards
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