#GiftArticle

There’s a Way to Stop Trump’s #IRS #SlushFund

by #JamieRaskin

These days it takes a spectacular burst of #corruption to get the attention of our scandal-weary nation, but #Trump & his admin have managed, once again, to transfix Americans by establishing a $1.776 billion “anti-weaponization” fund in the #DOJ that will undoubtedly be used to line the pockets of Trump’s partisans & foot soldiers — with your tax dollars.

#law #criminal #theft #TaxpayersMoney
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/05/22/opinion/trump-congress-blanche-treasury.html?unlocked_article_code=1.kVA.qgbr._vGHusTOpqUc&smid=nytcore-ios-share

The New Republic | Trump’s IRS Deal Is a Massive Test for Congress and the Courts by Timothy Noah

AI generated summary, Read the full article for complete information.

Timothy Noah argues that President Donald Trump’s recent IRS “settlement” – a $1.8 billion payment that would both reward allies and shield the Trump family from tax penalties – is fundamentally illegal because it breaches the Constitution’s domestic emoluments clause, which forbids a president from receiving any additional compensation from the United States while in office. He notes that prior emoluments lawsuits against Trump’s businesses have been dismissed or rendered moot, yet the settlement still proceeds despite lacking legal merit and exceeding the statute of limitations. Democrats have filed an amicus brief urging the court to reject the deal as a clear constitutional violation, while two Capitol‑Police officers who defended the January 6 riot are suing to block the “slush fund” that they say would finance future insurrectionists. In response, lawmakers like Rep. Jamie Raskin are drafting legislation to ban any use of federal funds for settlements that benefit a president, his family, or associated entities, and to prevent similar arrangements in the future. Noah concludes that without swift congressional and judicial action to invalidate Trump’s settlement, the United States risks abandoning the rule of law and becoming a “banana republic.”

Read more: https://newrepublic.com/article/210770/trump-massive-test-congress-courts

#DonaldTrump #law #politics #slushfund #TimothyNoah #KathleenWilliams #HarryDunn #DanielHodges #JamieRaskin

The Intercept | Trump’s “Anti-Weaponization” Fund Is a Handout to His Hardcore Supporters by Natasha Lennard

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The article reports that President Donald Trump’s Justice Department has created a $1.776 billion “anti‑weaponization” fund—drawn from the Treasury’s Judgment Fund—to disburse payments to Trump loyalists who claim they were targeted by the Biden administration, including many January 6 rioters who have been pardoned. The fund is presented as part of a settlement that ended a pending $10 billion lawsuit against the IRS, but critics argue it amounts to unprecedented corruption, effectively a taxpayer‑financed handout that enriches Trump’s inner circle and threatens the rule of law. Lawmakers and civil‑rights attorneys warn the payouts could violate the Fourteenth Amendment and liken the scheme to a theft worse than Watergate, emphasizing that it serves only to placate Trump’s dwindling base rather than benefit the broader American working class.

Read more: https://theintercept.com/2026/05/19/trump-anti-weaponization-fund-jan-6/

#DonaldTrump #ProudBoys #JamieRaskin #FourteenthAmendment #Watergate

Trump Just Created An Unconstitutional $1.776 Billion Loyalty Rewards Program For MAGA

https://fed.brid.gy/r/https://www.techdirt.com/2026/05/18/trump-just-created-an-unconstitutional-1-776-billion-loyalty-rewards-program-for-maga/

qwant news | Journalist Katie Phang sues acting attorney general Todd Blanche over Epstein files

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Investigative journalist Katie Phang has filed a federal lawsuit in Washington, D.C., accusing acting Attorney General Todd Blanche of personally violating the Epstein Files Transparency Act by failing to release all government documents about the late financier Jeffrey Epstein and by applying excessive or unjustified redactions; the suit claims the Justice Department missed statutory deadlines, withheld or re‑tracted key files, and did not provide the legally required explanations for redactions, thereby breaching a law that mandated a complete release of the “Epstein files” by 19 December. Phang, who has covered Epstein and his associate Ghislaine Maxwell for MeidasTouch, seeks a court order forcing the DOJ to publish every required document without unlawful redactions, an explanation for any remaining redactions, and the appointment of an independent special master to oversee compliance. The complaint highlights that the department has so far released only a fraction of the papers, often with unnecessary redactions that have even exposed victims’ identities, prompting criticism from lawmakers and prompting the DOJ’s Office of the Inspector General to launch its own audit of the agency’s handling of the transparency mandate.

Read more: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/apr/28/katie-phang-todd-blanche-epstein-files-lawsuit

#KatiePhang #ToddBlanche #Epstein #InspectorGeneral #JamieRaskin #GhislaineMaxwell

BBC News | Giuffre family hold vigil to mark anniversary of her death ahead of King's US visit

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Family, friends and supporters of Virginia Giuffre gathered near the Washington Monument for an emotional vigil marking the first anniversary of her death, with her brother Sky Roberts urging King Charles III to meet Epstein survivors and show solidarity. Lawyers and campaigners, including Sigrid McCawley and Sydney Beasly, called the royal visit a “missed opportunity” for the monarchy to engage with survivors of Jeffrey Epstein’s trafficking network, arguing that a brief meeting would demonstrate relevance and awareness. While the King is unlikely to meet survivors during the state visit due to legal concerns, Queen Camilla will meet representatives of anti‑violence‑against‑women campaigns, and the vigil featured speeches, music, and reminders that Giuffre’s case has inspired broader calls for accountability and systemic reform.

Read more: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cx2w7z8zj54o?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss

#VirginiaGiuffre #JeffreyEpstein #PrinceAndrew #KingCharles #SigridMcCawley #SkyRoberts #SydneyBeasly #JamieRaskin #WendyPesante