Democracy Docket reports:

President Donald Trump and his two eldest sons’ $10-billion lawsuit against the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) was brought for “an improper purpose,” a Florida-based federal judge ruled. The judge also recommended attorney sanctions for the Trumps’ lawyers.

In a blistering ruling Monday, U.S. District Judge Kathleen Williams issued the strongest rebuke of Trump’s lawsuit from the judiciary yet, characterizing it 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 and to earmark billions of dollars from American taxpayers to redress grievances not defined in the law,” Williams, who was nominated by former President Barack Obama, wrote.

The judge ordered that a copy of her ruling be sent to the State Bar of New York, of which acting Attorney General Blanche, one of Trump’s former personal defense lawyers, is a member.

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.

Additionally, the judge asked that a copy be sent to the District of Columbia Bar, where Associate Attorney General Stanley Woodward, another DOJ attorney involved in Trump’s suit, is barred.

Williams 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 in light of the findings and rulings made in this Order.” [Continue reading…]