Overview
- Trump’s lawyers, in a Friday filing in Miami federal court, asked for a 90-day pause so both sides can pursue talks to resolve the case.
- The January lawsuit by the president, his sons, and the Trump Organization seeks $10 billion, alleging IRS and Treasury failed to stop contractor Charles Littlejohn from leaking returns to the New York Times and ProPublica; Littlejohn pleaded guilty and received a five-year sentence in 2024.
- The Justice Department has not yet answered on the merits, and the pause gives government lawyers time to address conflicts because they defend the agencies yet ultimately report to the president who is suing them.
- Any payout would come from taxpayer funds, and the president has said he would donate any money he receives to charity.
- Ethics watchdogs and former officials filed briefs warning of collusive litigation and legal flaws, and Democratic lawmakers proposed a bill to bar presidents and vice presidents from collecting federal settlement payments.