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Judge voids $1.8 B Trump tax settlement, IRS counsel exits

7/18/2026

23 2 Full Breakdown

Summary

Story summary

Judge nullified a $1.8 billion settlement that would have shielded President Donald Trump and his family from IRS audits, calling it illegal.
Ken Kies, IRS chief counsel, will leave in mid-August after being forced out.
Ken Kies warned that directing IRS audits would breach the Internal Revenue Code.
Reuters reported that Ken Kies opposed the deal over high-value tax policies while Treasury counsel Brian Morrissey resigned in May over it.

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Story summary

Judge nullified a $1.8 billion settlement that would have shielded President Donald Trump and his family from IRS audits, calling it illegal.
Ken Kies, IRS chief counsel, will leave in mid-August after being forced out.
Ken Kies warned that directing IRS audits would breach the Internal Revenue Code.
Reuters reported that Ken Kies opposed the deal over high-value tax policies while Treasury counsel Brian Morrissey resigned in May over it.