A group of 35 former federal judges has formally requested that a Miami District Court reopen a $10 billion lawsuit previously filed by Donald Trump, his sons, and the Trump Organization against the Internal Revenue Service. The legal action, which centered on the unauthorized disclosure of tax information by a former IRS employee, was abruptly dismissed with prejudice on May 18. The retired jurists argue that the court was misled regarding the circumstances of the case’s conclusion.

The controversy stems from the fact that the plaintiffs moved to drop the lawsuit without disclosing a settlement, yet the Department of Justice announced a significant settlement agreement—including the creation of a $1.776 billion ‘Anti-Weaponization Fund’—on the very same day. A subsequent addendum to this agreement reportedly provided the plaintiffs with protection from future IRS enforcement actions related to past tax filings. The former judges contend that these actions suggest a lack of candor toward the court and potential manipulation of the judicial process.

Led by figures such as J. Michael Luttig, the group is invoking Rule 60 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, which provides a mechanism to set aside judgments in instances of fraud. They are urging Judge Kathleen Williams to reopen the proceedings to investigate whether the litigation was a legitimate case or a orchestrated effort to secure a settlement through collusion. The filing emphasizes that such actions threaten public confidence in the integrity of the judicial system and necessitate a thorough inquiry into the nature of the negotiations between the parties.