Reactions mounted on Tuesday after the Department of Justice issued an order permanently barring the United States from pursuing any tax claims or other legal actions against President Donald Trump, his family, his trusts, and his companies.
The Justice Department document was signed on Tuesday by Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche and was tied to the settlement of Trump v. Internal Revenue Service. The order stated that "The United States RELEASES, WAIVES, ACQUITS, and FOREVER DISCHARGES" the plaintiffs and is "FOREVER BARRED and PRECLUDED from prosecuting or pursuing, any and all claims, counterclaims, causes of action, appeals, or requests for any relief" against Trump or related parties.
Media experts, legal analysts and political leaders were stunned by the move and reacted on social media.
"Yeah no that’s not how it works. This is not Monopoly," Ryan Grim, reporter at Drop Site News, wrote on X.
"Absolutely insane levels of corruption happening right before your eyes," anti-Trump group The Lincoln Project wrote on X.
"This is obviously unacceptable, and a clear signal that the Constitution is hereby terminated. Clearly, the United States is a free-for-all now, and you can do what you want," publisher and editor Dave Troy wrote on X.
"Ummmmmmmmmm," journalist and podcaster Molly Jong-Fast wrote on X.
"Trump pardoned himself," MS NOW anchor and producer Lawrence O'Donnell wrote on X.
"lol," Richard Hanania, political scientist and Boston Globe contributor, wrote on X.
"Absolutely insane," Fred Wellman, Missouri state Democratic candidate and Army combat veteran, wrote on X.
"In other words…Trump is above the law," Sen. Andy Kim (D-NJ) wrote on X.
"Trump had his personal lawyer, who he installed atop the Justice Department, give him a get-out-of-jail-free card for past, present, and future tax fraud. Stealing taxpayer money and covering up future financial crimes for himself and his family at the same time," Rep. Don Beyer (D-VA) wrote on X.