Opponents of U.S. President Donald Trump¡¯s sweeping legal settlement with the U.S. Internal Revenue Service will face high hurdles in challenging its $1.776 billion fund for victims of alleged political ¡°weaponization¡± and its provision barring audits of his taxes, according to legal experts.
Congressional Democrats derided the so-called Anti-Weaponization Fund as a slush fund to steer taxpayer dollars to Trump¡¯s political allies, while watchdog groups called the tax immunity agreement illegal. Even some Republicans expressed qualms. Senate Majority Leader John Thune, for instance, said he was ¡°not a big fan¡± of the plan. Two police officers who defended the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, against a failed bid by Trump supporters to stop Congress from certifying Democrat ?Joe Biden¡¯s 2020 election victory, have already sued. The officers allege that the fund will reward and empower rioters who have harassed them and made death threats.
Legal experts said it is unclear whether ?challengers will ?be able to block payouts or undo Trump¡¯s shield against audits of past taxes if Congress, controlled by Trump¡¯s fellow Republicans, stays silent.
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