CREW requested records from the Department of Justice, Treasury Department and the IRS on an expedited basis related to Trump’s settlement negotiations to resolve his $10 billion lawsuit against his own administration. The public urgently needs answers about this unprecedented lawsuit and effort to grant taxpayer dollars directly to the president and his family, potentially doubling his net worth. CREW requested all communications between President Trump, his sons and the Trump Organization and DOJ, Treasury, and the IRS related to the lawsuit, as well as communications between those agencies.

On January 29, 2026, Trump, his sons, and the Trump Organization sued the IRS and Treasury Department in the Southern District of Florida, seeking “at least” $10 billion in damages arising from the unauthorized disclosure of his tax returns by former IRS contractor Charles Littlejohn. Trump brought this suit against the federal government “in his personal capacity,” while simultaneously overseeing the defendant agencies he is suing, confirming that, in his own words, he is on “both sides of a lawsuit.” CREW filed an amicus brief in the case arguing that Trump’s lawsuit poses insurmountable conflicts of interest and that any settlement would be unconstitutional.

CREW’s request will significantly contribute to the public’s understanding of the federal government’s conduct related to this lawsuit and the conflicts it poses. President Trump said publicly that he intends to “work out a settlement with myself,” that he would “tell ‘em to pay me” and that “essentially, the lawsuit’s been won.” Meanwhile, the DOJ has vigorously argued that victims of the same data leak are not entitled to damages at all. Given the indications that Trump is involved in the process of negotiating a settlement with himself, the public deserves to understand whether the DOJ will treat President Trump’s claims more favorably than other Americans. 

The public also deserves to know if the DOJ, Treasury, and IRS considered whether a settlement would comply with the Constitution’s Domestic Emoluments Clause, which forbids the president from receiving profits, gains or advantages from the federal government outside of his or her government salary and benefits.

These records will shed light on what would be an unprecedented and unconstitutional settlement between the sitting president and the agencies he controls, paid for by taxpayer dollars. 

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