this post was submitted on 20 May 2026
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Addendum quietly slipped into widely criticized agreement creating a $1.7bn fund to compensate president’s allies

The justice department quietly added a provision barring the IRS from auditing Donald Trump’s tax returns on Tuesday, amending a widely criticized agreement that creates a secretive and loosely controlled $1.776bn fund to compensate allies of the president.

The addendum, signed by Todd Blanche, the acting attorney general, says the government is “forever barred” and “precluded” from examining the tax returns of Trump, his family, company and “related companies”. The agreement applies to anything filed before the agreement was reached. It was posted on the justice department website on Tuesday morning, a day after the department announced creation of the fund.

The inclusion only adds to mounting scrutiny of the wider agreement reached on Tuesday. The arrangement was announced after Trump said he was dropping a $10bn lawsuit against the IRS and other specious claims against the government in exchange for creating the compensation fund. IRS officials recommended fighting Trump’s lawsuit, the New York Times reported on Tuesday, but the agency decided to settle it anyway, raising further questions about improper interference.

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[–] NocturnalMorning@lemmy.world 2 points 1 hour ago

What does Trump or Russia, or whoever is pulling the strings here have on these people? Bcz my god it must be revolting for them to bend over backwards this far to kiss trumps asshole.

[–] Bwaz@lemmy.world 16 points 5 hours ago (2 children)

I'm not a judge or lawyer, but I can't imagine this being binding on later administrations. They could just as casually declare the opposite and audit his fraudulant ass.

[–] samus12345@sh.itjust.works 1 points 2 hours ago

They could, but they won't.

[–] TwodogsFighting@lemdro.id 8 points 4 hours ago

As long as they do it after they've hanged the entire fucking family for treason.

[–] partial_accumen@lemmy.world 7 points 17 hours ago

Literally "Rules for thee, and not for me".

[–] Windex007@lemmy.world 33 points 1 day ago
[–] chilldrivenspade@lemmy.world 101 points 1 day ago (1 children)

breathtaking corruption. i know there’s no shortage of corruption in human history, but you really gotta think trump might be PEAK corruption

[–] TrickDacy@lemmy.world 23 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago) (2 children)

I think he's got the least shame about it, since the 24 news cycle anyhow. He barely bothers to try and hide it.

[–] Soulifix@piefed.world 6 points 17 hours ago

Even the Bushes when they were in the oval office, did sometimes look over their shoulders as to whether or not what they did was wrong or right on some things. They somehow still had some resemblance of morals.

Trump has none. He doesn't care of anyone or anything. It's all "my way or go fuck yourself".

[–] Signtist@bookwyr.me 11 points 1 day ago

Yeah, I generally assume all wealthy are as corrupt as this, slipping the right people the right amount of money so that they never have to actually pay for their crimes. Trump just does it out in the open because he's not just your normal corrupt politician, he's a showboating corrupt politician.

[–] TrickDacy@lemmy.world 58 points 1 day ago

What he has done with this is announce loudly that there would be a lot of fraud if they were to be audited/investigated. This is the move of someone who assumes they will never be out of power again.

[–] amateurcrastinator@lemmy.world 40 points 1 day ago (29 children)

Guys guys! Always remember: it could have been much much worse with that unpopular Kamala! Remember that there was absolutely nothing that you could have done to prevent this. Nothing!

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[–] Bluedragon012@lemmy.world 23 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago)

Irs: "How about we do it anyway? Seems to work for you."

[–] Ryudos@lemmy.world 44 points 1 day ago (4 children)

I'm not sure how this would affect a future administration of just changing that rule and having a new AG sign that one.

[–] Keilik@lemmy.world 40 points 1 day ago

I’m not sure why exactly it bars the IRS from investigating honestly, what jurisdiction or control does Blanche and the DOJ really have over the IRS? Is this another move out of the DeSantis playbook, where you just agree and give trump the headline because memories are short and it’s not gonna be your problem soon anyways?

[–] BrianTheeBiscuiteer@lemmy.world 13 points 1 day ago (2 children)

After this admin all norms are out the window.

[–] Soulifix@piefed.world 3 points 17 hours ago (1 children)

All that Trump's actions do and will have done, is say "Hey, future corrupt presidents after me, see? You CAN do anything you want and you WILL get away with it so long as you're the president! Every and all opposition is just noise, just keep being happily corrupt and NOTHING will happen to you!".

It has set that precedent.

[–] Infernal_pizza@lemmy.dbzer0.com 1 points 5 hours ago

There were 4 years where he wasn't president and he seemed to get away with it then as well

[–] Triumph@fedia.io 34 points 1 day ago

All norms were out the window the moment the "grab them by the pussy" tape came out and nothing happened.

[–] magnue@lemmy.world 8 points 1 day ago

Future administration?

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[–] sturmblast@lemmy.world 30 points 1 day ago (9 children)
[–] 3abas@lemmy.world 2 points 17 hours ago

King, president for life, same same

[–] Pat_Riot@lemmy.today 11 points 1 day ago

What like theoretically?

[–] Kirp123@lemmy.world 5 points 1 day ago

Maybe not by name.

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[–] kbobabob@lemmy.dbzer0.com 12 points 1 day ago (1 children)

That means Trump can finally release the tax records then?

[–] TrickDacy@lemmy.world 9 points 1 day ago (1 children)

It's coming in two weeks. Right after he ends the pointless war he started, makes Mexico pay for the wall, and releases details of his healthcare plan.

[–] Soulifix@piefed.world 1 points 17 hours ago

And pays the tariff reimbursements. And the DOGE checks. And the two other stimulus packages that was supposed to happen sometime ago. Anyday, soon! VERY SOON! STOP BEING IMPATIENT!

[–] anon_8675309@lemmy.world 8 points 1 day ago

Doesn’t he owe like $100M? I guess that’s wiped out too?

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