David Cole

@davidcole-gtown.bsky.social

Professor, Georgetown Law; contributor to New York Review of Books; former National Legal Director, ACLU. Views expressed are my own.

@davidcole-gtown.bsky.social

The so-called “narrowing” of the IRS immunity agreement continues to give Trump, his sons, and his organization immunity for past and present tax violations, worth as much as $10 million.. It’s illegal, it’s corrupt, it’s an impeachable offense

Barb McQuade@barbmcquade.bsky.social

Blanche’s appeasement is hollow. Trump still gets immunity from tax audits worth $100 million. And last week’s payout to abortion clinic blocker shows the path to payouts to rewrite history will be individual settlements instead of one designated fund. www.nytimes.com/2026/08/03/u...

nytimes.comBlanche Gives G.O.P. Senators Written Assurances on Trump’s I.R.S. Deal (Gift Article)Todd Blanche’s confirmation as attorney general has been held up over concerns about a planned $1.8 billion fund for Trump allies and the president’s immunity from tax scrutiny.
@davidcole-gtown.bsky.social

The opposition to this corruption has been heartening. It may be that this is one Trump can’t get away with. My take on why the “settlement” is so unethical and unconstitutional, and why it requires us all to push back.

David Cole@davidcole-gtown.bsky.social

Filing a collusive lawsuit against yourself does not empower you to give youself and your family “forever” immunity from liability for tax violations, much less a slush fund for your criminal friends. This is like shooting someone on Fifth Ave. www.nybooks.com/online/2026/...

nybooks.comTrump v. Trump | David ColeCall it “the art of the self-deal.” You sue yourself, announce a hasty “settlement” when the judge questions whether you are engaged in collusion (with