Former President Donald Trump has initiated a lawsuit seeking $10 billion in damages against the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and the U.S. Treasury Department. The legal action stems from allegations of severe reputational harm and financial distress caused by leaked tax information. Trump asserts that the disclosures were either intentional or resulted from gross negligence, warranting punitive damages.
The lawsuit, filed on Thursday, places Trump in an unusual position of suing federal agencies within the Executive Branch, which he once led. The IRS operates under the Treasury Department, and neither agency has commented on the lawsuit. Notably, Scott Bessent, the Treasury Secretary and acting IRS commissioner, is not named as a defendant in this case.
Joining Trump in the lawsuit are his sons, Donald Trump Jr. and Eric Trump, along with the Trump Organization. This legal move is part of a broader trend, as Trump has filed multiple lawsuits since securing his second term in the White House in 2024. For instance, he is pursuing $15 billion from the New York Times and Penguin Random House over articles he claims aimed to undermine his election prospects.
Allegations of Harm and the Source of Leaks
In his complaint, Trump highlights that both the New York Times and ProPublica published numerous articles based on confidential disclosures by a former IRS employee, identified as Littlejohn. The suit alleges that these leaks resulted in significant reputational and financial damage, portraying Trump and the other plaintiffs in a false light and adversely affecting their public standing. The complaint notes that the New York Times released at least eight articles, while ProPublica published over fifty articles related to the leaked tax information.
In September 2023, prosecutors charged Littlejohn with leaking tax records of Trump and numerous other wealthy individuals to the media, citing a politically motivated agenda. Littlejohn subsequently pleaded guilty in October 2023 to unauthorized disclosure of income tax return information and was sentenced in January 2024 to five years in prison.
The leaks revealed that Trump paid only $750 in federal income taxes for the years 2016 and 2017, information that has generated substantial public interest and scrutiny.
Legal Representation and Next Steps
The legal action is being spearheaded by Alejandro Brito, a Florida-based attorney who has assisted in filing multiple lawsuits on behalf of Trump, including those against various media outlets. As of now, Brito has not responded to requests for comment following the filing of this latest lawsuit.
Trump’s ongoing legal battles underscore the complex interplay between his political ambitions and personal legal challenges. As he continues to navigate these issues, the outcomes of these lawsuits could have significant implications for both his public image and his financial interests.
