Federal judge voids Trump's $1.8 bln settlement fund, calls it improper

Published Jul 13, 04:06 PM UTC

U.S. District Judge Kathleen Williams invalidated the settlement underlying Donald Trump's nearly $1.8 billion slush fund, which was created after Trump dropped a $10 billion lawsuit against the IRS over the leak of his tax returns. The fund was pitched as reparations for right-wing individuals targeted by the previous administration, paid by U.S. taxpayers through the Department of Justice. Judge Williams ruled that the parties were never adversarial, calling the arrangement an attempt to use the court to legitimize immunity for Trump and his affiliates and to earmark billions for undefined grievances. She prohibited any entities affiliated with the settlement from using its details officially and referred Trump's attorney, Alejandro Brito, to the Florida bar for possible discipline. The settlement also included a provision immunizing Trump from further federal prosecution, which the judge found improper.