Benjamin Freed

Tax editor at @POLITICO. Formers: @tax, @State_Scoop, @Washingtonian, so many other blogs and local websites lost in time, like tears in rain.

[Josh Gerstein @joshgerstein]

UPDATE: DOJ's nod to Graham's idea seems to be gone https://t.co/pKA8SXTT5F

[Meredith Lee Hill @meredithllee]

NEWS - Speaker Mike Johnson tells @politico the Trump admin's “Anti-Weaponization Fund” is “off the table” for reconciliation

“I think the president’s been pretty clear via the Department of Justice — their statement [is] that it’s now being set aside,” Johnson said in an interview.

“So I understand there’s some senators that want a little more than that, but in terms of clarification, so I suppose they’re in the process of doing that.”

Johnson met with Trump yesterday and raised concerns about the viability of the fund given the current meltdown in the Senate GOP, as we've reported.

The speaker also told us the WH ballroom security money is likewise "off the table" for the GOP bill - amid a rebellion of some of his own Republicans.

https://t.co/XLWlkjYcbe

[Daniel Miller @DanielNMiller]

Dr. Dre and Maxine Waters are clashing in Compton over a $360 million bond measure that would rebuild a high school that Eazy-E and other notables attended. Waters is urging a “no” vote, baffling local leaders. Dre, who supports the measure, responds here: https://t.co/Bup2GkIcql

[Josh Gerstein @joshgerstein]

BREAKING: Judge opens inquiry into settlement of Trump-IRS lawsuit with $1.8B "Anti-Weaponization Fund." Judge Kathleen Williams (Obama/SDFL) says if fatally flawed suit was filed just to justify a settlement, it could merit sanctions. w/@kyledcheney https://t.co/RMLbwqQK8v

[POLITICO @politico]

Top NJ and NY prosecutors announce investigation of World Cup ticket prices https://t.co/GvKdNQ9FsS

[Riley Rogerson @riley_rogerson]

NEW: A federal court ruled that lawmakers acted improperly in canceling cost-of-living adjustments.

But members should not expect a raise anytime soon — if ever.

https://t.co/mO2J56Hf2W

[Danny Nguyen @dannyn516]

SCOOP: An IRS proposal raises privacy concerns over a third-party contractor retaining taxpayer biometric data for multiple years to aid fraud investigations.

https://t.co/RolzmhGG4m

[POLITICO @politico]

IRS proposal would have company preserve biometric data longer https://t.co/y6yB9jIlOy

[Mike DeBonis @mikedebonis]

It's a done deal @jordainc reports: No ballroom money in Recon 2.0 https://t.co/72cWC7TVgo

[POLITICO @politico]

Justice Department expands Trump settlement to cover his tax audits https://t.co/sCxJ6P4M8v

[Meredith Lee Hill @meredithllee]

Rep. Don Bacon (R-Neb.) tells @politico the $1.8 billion fund set up by Trump admin "appears like conflict of interest and a partial process."

“We have the claimant negotiating with the defense, and the claimant also happens to be the boss of the defense."

"The White House should bring in an independent arbitrator to protect itself from accusations.”

Todd Blanche in Senate testimony just now didn't rule out making payments to those who stormed the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, as part of the Justice Department’s new “Anti-Weaponization Fund.”

https://t.co/StWihbKadg via @politico

[Josh Gerstein @joshgerstein]

JUST IN: DOJ releases text of Trump IRS settlement. Doesn't appear to resolve past/future tax audits. Doc: https://t.co/OQu1GdmCvH Earlier: https://t.co/3zAkSsEsbJ

[Josh Gerstein @joshgerstein]

JUST IN: Trump settles $10B suit over leaking of his tax returns, as well as Russia probe & Mar-a-Lago raid damages claims by setting up $1.8B "weaponization" fund at DOJ to issue payments to unspecified victims of "lawfare." w/@dannyn516 https://t.co/3zAkSsDUmb

[POLITICO @politico]

Trump settles $10B lawsuit against IRS over leaked tax returns https://t.co/i7zmEiw35T