Trump is the only president who refused to release his tax returns. Even fought to keep them from congressional investigators. Eventually leaked, the returns showed Trump (supposed “successful businessman”) had claimed the biggest business losses of any U.S. taxpayer, and, over years, paid little or no tax.
Trump sued his own government for $10 billion over the tax return leak. Not his first such suit — he also demanded $230 million, claiming harm from indictments for his crimes including thefts of classified documents and attempt to overthrow the 2020 election. He remarked, with a bemused smirk, that as president he’d have the final say over the government settling that suit by paying him off.
Now it (he) has settled with him(self) the tax return leak case. The deal would bar the IRS from continuing its ongoing audit/investigation of fraud in Trump’s tax returns, as well as those of his family and businesses. This sweeping grant of immunity is considered to be unprecedented.
The settlement also entails a $1.776 billion (1776 — get it?) fund to “compensate” Trump supporters for the alleged “weaponization” of the Biden Justice Department prosecuting them for crimes. A false myth concocted by Trump as itself a political weapon. Only real crimes were prosecuted. In fact, Biden’s DoJ was so squeamish to avoid any appearance of politicization that they indefensibly delayed indicting Trump, which got him off the hook.
The true Justice Department weaponization is Trump’s (epitomized by indicting former FBI director Comey for a sea shell photo).
Nevertheless, the settlement contemplates a five-person board appointed by the attorney general (currently Trump flunkie Todd Blanche) to vet claims for payouts from the $1.776 billion pot. Dividing that among a thousand claimants would give each $1.776 million. But DoJ says there could be tens of millions of Biden victims eligible for payments. Really.
It’s stipulated that Trump and his family will not benefit . . . “directly.” And surely there could be no corruption in that board’s work, no kickbacks, no favoritism, no quid pro quos, etc. Nothing like Trump’s pay-to-play pardon policy.
The largest class of beneficiaries would be January 6 rioters. Immediately after that event, then-President Trump said those who engaged in “acts of violence and destruction . . . do not represent our country” and anyone who broke the law will pay for their crimes. But then, returned to office, he pardoned every one of the 1500+ people convicted of January 6 crimes, including violent attacks upon police officers. (So much for Republicans as the party of “law and order” and supporting police.) And now Trump even wants them rewarded with taxpayer money, those “patriotic heroes.” (Assuring us, “I only do what’s right.”)
And here’s Alabama Senator Tommy Tuberville (former football coach) speaking on the Senate floor on Thursday, concerning January 6 (actual quote): “Let’s be clear about what happened: Democrats and the deep state, they hated Trump so much that they orchestrated a coup against our government.”
COMING SOON: VI Day — Declaring America’s great victory over Iran.
Black is white.
Up is down.
War is peace.
Freedom is slavery.
Ignorance is strength.
