Todd Blanche faces his confirmation hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee tomorrow as a federal judge delivered a scathing 56-page ruling on July 13, 2026, finding that President Trump’s $10 billion lawsuit against the IRS was brought for “an improper purpose” and recommending disciplinary action against the acting attorney general.
U.S. District Judge Kathleen Williams, nominated by former President Barack Obama, characterized Trump’s suit as an unparalleled expression of self-dealing. “The nature of the suit itself and the conduct of the Parties and counsel from its filing make plain that this was an attempt to use the Court to provide some legitimacy to an agreement to confer immunity to people and entities affiliated with the President,” Williams wrote in her order.
The judge ordered that a copy of her ruling be sent to the State Bar of New York, where Blanche, Trump’s former personal defense lawyer, is a member. She also referred Trump’s personal attorney in the case, Alejandro Brito, to the Florida Bar “for its consideration, review, and determination as to whether any disciplinary action is appropriate.” A third referral went to the District of Columbia Bar for Associate Attorney General Stanley Woodward.
Implications for Blanche’s Confirmation
The timing of Williams’ ruling creates additional pressure on Blanche as he prepares for his July 15-16 confirmation hearing. Blanche is currently facing multiple ethics complaints filed with the New York Attorney Grievance Committee over alleged misconduct and abuse of investigative powers during his tenure at the DOJ.
Trump and the DOJ had settled the suit by establishing a $1.776 billion fund to compensate the president’s allies, with conditions that would permanently insulate Trump, his family members, and his businesses from IRS audits. After facing significant bipartisan backlash and a court injunction, Blanche publicly claimed in June that the department was not moving forward with the compensation fund portion of the settlement. However, the audit immunity remained in effect.
In her ruling, Williams emphasized that the DOJ’s explicit inaction in response to Trump’s suit served as clear evidence of the president’s double-dealing. She criticized the department for “abdicating its responsibility to zealously defend the interests of the United States.” The judge noted that “the Government entered into a ‘settlement’ that deviated from its litigation posture in similar actions, disregarded DOJ policies, and accomplished objectives beyond those authorized, as well as those specifically prohibited, by law.”
Trump and his two eldest sons had sued the IRS and Treasury Department, demanding $10 billion because a former contractor accessed the president’s tax records and shared them with the New York Times during his first term. In taking the IRS to court, Trump was essentially suing his own administration—he controlled both sides of the litigation. By voiding the settlement, Judge Williams’ ruling removes the legal foundation Blanche had relied upon to justify the immunity provisions granted to Trump.
Sources
- Democracy Docket — Judge’s 56-page ruling, Blanche referral to State Bar of New York, and characterization of suit as improper self-dealing
- AP News — Judge’s finding that Trump’s IRS lawsuit was filed for improper purpose and referral of lawyers for possible discipline
- The New York Times — Judge’s denunciation of Trump’s suit as improper exercise in self-dealing and recommendation of disciplinary action against Blanche
- The Guardian — Judge voiding Trump-IRS settlement in scathing ruling
- Ballotpedia — Confirmation hearing scheduled for July 15-16, 2026
- Senate Judiciary Committee — Official confirmation hearing notification
