WASHINGTON, DC — Following new reporting that the IRS prepared a 25-page memo outlining clear legal defenses against President Trump’s lawsuit that was ignored by the DOJ, the Not Above the Law coalition’s co-chairs – Lisa Gilbert, Co-President of Public Citizen; Praveen Fernandes, Vice President of the Constitutional Accountability Center; Kelsey Herbert, Campaign Director at MoveOn; and Brett Edkins, Managing Director for Policy and Political Affairs at Stand Up America – issued the following statement:
“Career IRS lawyers identified clear legal defenses against Trump’s corrupt lawsuit, but Trump’s DOJ apparently buried their memo to enrich the President and his allies. This administration will pursue corruption by any means necessary, including overriding their own lawyers to funnel $1.776 billion in taxpayer funds to Trump’s political cronies. This billion-dollar slush fund abuses taxpayer dollars, abuses executive power, and disrespects the hard work of career employees who sought to uphold the rule of law. The American people deserve a Justice Department that works for them – not one that ignores the expertise of government lawyers to protect the president’s bottom line. That the agreement between DOJ and Trump also includes a provision that purports to stop the IRS from pursuing tax claims against Trump, his family, or businesses, should surprise no one – and disgust everyone.”
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