Trump administration to create $1.776B ‘Truth and Justice Commission’ to compensate allies: Sources

The Department of Justice is in the final stages of negotiating a deal to establish a “Truth and Justice Commission” along with a compensation fund totaling $1,776,000,000 to address claims made by individuals who allege government “weaponization.” This agreement is contingent upon President Donald Trump dropping his lawsuit against the Internal Revenue Service, as reported by sources to ABC News.

The proposed deal, which is expected to encounter legal challenges and has drawn criticism from Democrats who view it as a way to benefit Trump’s associates, emerged after extensive discussions between White House and DOJ officials. Initially, there was a consideration to compensate Trump directly, but DOJ lawyers justified this approach by asserting Trump’s rights as a private citizen to sue while also holding executive power as president.

By invoking the legal principle of the “rule of necessity,” DOJ lawyers argued that allowing Trump to proceed with the lawsuit against the IRS and Treasury, which he oversees, was the only viable option. However, as the presiding judge raised concerns about the conflict of interest, the plan shifted towards the establishment of the compensation fund, symbolically set at $1.776 billion in reference to the nation’s founding.

While the terms of the proposed compensation arrangement are subject to change, a group of esteemed attorneys has been appointed by Judge Williams to provide insight into the case. They have raised significant issues with Trump’s lawsuit, highlighting his substantial control over the defendants and the potential influence on the legal proceedings.

Trump initiated the lawsuit against the IRS following a government contractor’s admission of stealing tax information from him and other affluent individuals, leaking it to the media. To address the mounting scrutiny from the court, DOJ officials devised a plan to create the compensation fund on the condition that Trump drops the lawsuit and two civil claims related to the Russia collusion investigation and the search of his Mar-a-Lago estate.

The proposed “President Donald J. Trump Truth and Justice Commission” would consist of five commissioners, with Trump having the authority to remove four of them without cause. Despite concerns raised by Democratic lawmakers about the transparency and use of taxpayer funds for the compensation fund, DOJ lawyers believe the settlement does not require court approval.

As the legal and ethical implications of this settlement continue to unfold, the potential involvement of the Supreme Court has been hinted at by some lawmakers. The controversy surrounding the compensation fund underscores the complex intersection of politics, legality, and justice in this high-profile case.