U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche gestures as he speaks during a press conference to announce actions regarding a Chinese national marriage fraud scheme, at the Justice Department (DOJ) in Washington, D.C., U.S., August 12, 2026. REUTERS/Evelyn Hockstein
Attorney General Todd Blanche deployed the Justice Department to defend President Donald Trump's embattled IRS settlement just one day after being sworn in.
The May settlement shielded Trump, his family, and businesses from IRS audits in exchange for dropping a $10 billion lawsuit against the agency.
Wednesday night, Politico's Josh Gertstein drew attention to a new filing in the case.
"Trump Justice Department backs Trump's private lawyers in bid to have appeals court block and overturn judge's order imposing fraud-on-the-court sanctions for Trump-IRS settlement," Gertstein reported.
U.S. District Judge Kathleen Williams threatened the deal in July, issuing sanctions against Trump's legal team and a gag order barring references to the agreement in official proceedings.
Blanche's Department of Justice, or DOJ, filed a brief with the Eleventh Circuit supporting Trump's lawyers' bid to overturn the judge's order.
Acting Deputy Attorney General R. Trent McCotter argued the settlement was legitimate.
Democrats predicted Blanche would act in Trump's favor.
During Blanche's confirmation hearing, Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ) warned, "He is about to become Trump's sword against his adversaries and shield against any scrutiny."
Sen. Adam Schiff (D-CA) also argued, "He will never do what's best for the American people. He will only do what's best for Donald Trump."
According to NPR, Republicans John Cornyn (R-TX) and Thom Tillis (R-NC) refused to advance his nomination without having written assurances Blanche's tax audit immunity deal was limited to the lawsuit's plaintiffs and that its proposed $1.8 billion "Anti-weaponization Fund" was annulled.
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