Trump Really, Really Doesn't Want to Get Audited. I Wonder Why?

"Whether to settle the suit and on what terms remains up in the air. One of the settlement options the Justice Department and White House officials are reviewing is the possibility of the IRS dropping any audits of Mr. Trump, his family members or businesses, according to two of the people."

"In January, Mr. Trump, along with two of his sons and the Trump family business, sued the Internal Revenue Service for at least $10 billion over the leak of their tax returns during the president's first term. The Trumps argued that the IRS should have done more to prevent a former contractor from disclosing tax information to The New York Times and ProPublica."

"Given that Mr. Trump oversees the IRS, the judge in the case has taken a series of novel legal steps...to probe whether there is a genuine controversy between the Justice Department and Mr. Trump. For a lawsuit to be valid, the two parties must actually be on opposite sides...otherwise the judge can throw out the case."

"The judge has ordered Mr. Trump's personal lawyers-along with the Justice Department, which represents the IRS in federal court-to submit briefs by May 20 explaining whether they are in conflict with one another."

A lawsuit seeks at least $10 billion over the leak of Trump tax returns during the first term. The plaintiffs argue the IRS should have prevented a former contractor from disclosing tax information to major news organizations. Settlement terms are under review by the Justice Department and White House officials, including a possibility that the IRS would drop audits of Trump, family members, or businesses. A judge has taken steps to determine whether there is a genuine controversy between the Justice Department and Trump, since a valid lawsuit requires opposing sides. The judge ordered briefs by May 20 from Trump’s personal lawyers and the Justice Department to explain whether they are in conflict.

Read at Esquire