A US federal judge has imposed professional sanctions on lawyers who represented President Donald Trump in a legal case against the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), ruling that the lawsuit was pursued in bad faith and for an improper purpose.
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In the ruling, the judge said President Trump and two of his sons had acted with bad faith during the proceedings. The court concluded that the lawsuit was not filed to resolve a legitimate legal dispute but was instead intended to influence the judicial process and obtain legal protection for a disputed tax arrangement.
The judge also criticised the US Department of Justice over its handling of the case, describing the litigation as an inappropriate use of the court system. According to the ruling, the legal action appeared to be an attempt to secure judicial approval for a controversial agreement that could have provided tax-related benefits to the Trump family.
As part of the decision, the lawyers representing Trump were handed professional disciplinary sanctions. While the court did not publicly detail all of the penalties, the ruling serves as a formal reprimand against the legal team for conduct that the judge determined failed to meet professional standards.
The case centred on legal proceedings involving the IRS, the US agency responsible for tax collection and enforcement. The judge found that the lawsuit lacked a proper legal foundation and concluded that the actions of those involved amounted to an abuse of the judicial process.
The ruling is expected to draw significant political and legal attention given President Trump’s high-profile status and the ongoing scrutiny surrounding his legal affairs. Legal experts say court-imposed sanctions against attorneys are relatively uncommon and generally reflect serious concerns about litigation practices or professional conduct.
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Neither President Trump nor his legal team immediately responded publicly to the ruling. It also remains unclear whether the decision will be appealed. The case adds to a series of legal challenges involving Trump that continue to attract national attention in the United States.