Judge Reopens Trump’s IRS Suit to Examine $1.8bn Settlement with Justice Department A federal judge in Miami has reopened Donald Trump’s $10bn lawsuit against the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), following a third-party motion alleging that the settlement, which lacks detailed terms, is “a product of collusion and is itself a fraud on the court.” The ruling by Judge Kathleen Williams, an Obama appointee, revives a case initially filed by Trump and his sons against the IRS after their personal and business tax returns were leaked by a former contractor. The case had been dismissed earlier this month, but Williams ordered a review after a bipartisan group of 35 former federal judges urged her to scrutinize the settlement. The lawsuit, which Trump had dropped last week, centered on allegations that the IRS improperly accessed and disclosed his tax returns. In exchange for dropping the case, Todd Blanche, the acting attorney general and former Trump defense lawyer, reportedly secured a provision barring the U.S. government from auditing the Trump family’s tax returns indefinitely. This “forever” clause has drawn significant criticism, with the judge questioning its validity, noting that only Blanche signed the provision. The settlement includes a controversial $1.8bn “anti-weaponization” fund, intended to compensate individuals claiming they were victims of federal overreach. Critics, including lawmakers and some Republicans, have labeled the fund a “slush fund” and a political liability, arguing it could be used to reward Trump’s political allies while indirectly benefiting the family.#donald_trump #internal_revenue_service #todd_blanche #judge_kathleen_williams #charles_littlejohn
Trump Administration Targets Immigration Judges to Speed Up Deportations The U.S. Department of Justice, under the leadership of acting Attorney General Todd Blanche, has announced plans to remove immigration judges deemed too slow or uncooperative with the administration’s deportation agenda. Blanche made these remarks during a press conference in Washington on April 21, 2026, following his appearance at the annual Border Security Expo in Phoenix. The event brought together immigration officials, law enforcement agencies, and federal contractors, highlighting the administration’s focus on immigration and border security. Blanche’s comments marked one of the most detailed public statements on immigration court reforms since he assumed his role after the resignation of Pam Bondi earlier this year. The Trump administration has prioritized large-scale deportations as a core policy goal, aiming to address what it describes as a backlog of over 3.7 million immigration cases. To accelerate this process, the government has intensified immigration enforcement in major cities, expanded detention centers, and increased hiring of immigration agents. However, the efficiency of deportations hinges on the immigration courts, which are managed by the Department of Justice rather than the federal judiciary. Unlike federal courts, where judges have lifetime appointments and strict procedural rules, immigration judges can be removed by the Department of Justice without significant legal hurdles. Blanche emphasized that the administration is targeting judges who allegedly delay cases or fail to apply immigration laws “by empathy for individuals.” He stated, “One takes an oath and is not allowed to make decisions based on what seems to please you or by caprice.#department_of_justice #trump_administration #todd_blanche #american_immigration_lawyers_association #border_security_expo
Justice Department Rolls Back Gun Regulations Amid ATF Leadership Confirmation The U.S. Justice Department announced sweeping changes to federal gun regulations on Wednesday, marking a significant shift in firearm policy that aligns with the priorities of Second Amendment advocates within President Donald Trump’s political base. The revisions, which include the repeal of a 2024 Biden administration rule requiring firearms dealers to conduct background checks on buyers at gun shows and other non-physical retail locations, were signed shortly after the Senate confirmed Robert Cekada as the new head of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). The proposed changes target what critics describe as the “gun show loophole,” a provision that previously allowed unlicensed dealers to sell firearms without performing background checks on buyers. This loophole, which has been a focal point of gun control debates, was addressed by the Biden administration’s 2024 rule, which aimed to close it by mandating background checks for all firearm sales outside traditional brick-and-mortar stores. However, the new revisions seek to reverse this policy, with Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche calling the overhaul “the most comprehensive regulatory reform package in the history” of the ATF. Blanche argued that the changes align with Supreme Court precedents and reduce unnecessary burdens on lawful gun owners and dealers. Gun control advocates condemned the move as reckless, particularly in the wake of a recent incident in which a man armed with firearms and knives attempted to storm the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner.#justice_department #atf #robert_cekada #everytown_for_gun_safety #todd_blanche
