A federal judge launched a severe criticism against President Donald Trump, his legal team and the United States Department of Justice (DOJ), concluding that the civil lawsuit filed against the IRS was used to obtain benefits that lacked legal basis.

In a 56-page ruling, Judge Kathleen Williams determined that the litigation was promoted for an “improper purpose” and ordered sanctions against two lawyers representing the president. In addition, he considered that Trump and his older children acted in “bad faith” during the judicial process.

The judge orders sanctions and questions the agreement

As part of the ruling, Williams referred attorney Alejandro Brito to the Florida Bar to evaluate a possible disciplinary sanction; Likewise, it restricted the ability of lawyer Daniel Epstein to practice before the Federal Court of the Southern District of Florida.

The judge also prohibited the agreement reached between the parties from being used as evidence in other judicial, administrative or regulatory procedures.

In his ruling, Williams was forceful: "The facts show that there was never animosity between the parties; there was never a case or a controversy; and there was never a question as to who would prevail."

The judge held that the litigation sought to obtain the court's support for an agreement that “lacked legal or factual basis.”

The origin of the conflict with the IRS

The lawsuit was filed by Donald Trump and his eldest children against the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) after the leak of tax returns that ended up published by media such as The New York Times and ProPublica.

The case concluded in May through an out-of-court agreement that contemplated, among other points, the creation of a fund for $1,776 million to compensate people who alleged that they had been victims of political use by the federal government.

However, after criticism from Congress and judicial scrutiny, the Department of Justice announced that said fund would no longer move forward. Still, another provision that permanently prevents the IRS from bringing certain tax claims against Trump, his adult children and companies tied to his family remained in effect.

Trump's defense rejects the accusations

The president's legal team responded to the ruling by ensuring that the true origin of the conflict was the illegal leak of tax information.

“The IRS wrongly allowed a dishonest and politically motivated employee to leak private and confidential information about President Trump, his family and the Trump Organization,” a spokesperson for the legal team said.

Williams also questioned the role of the DOJ, considering that it gave up defending the interests of the federal government and allowed an agreement that, in his opinion, was intended to grant extraordinary benefits to the president using public resources.

The resolution comes just days before the confirmation hearing for Todd Blanche as attorney general, who signed documents related to the deal while still part of Trump's legal team.