On Friday, Judge Kathleen Williams took a significant step by ordering a review of former President Donald Trump’s $10 billion case against the IRS, citing potential fraud in the settlement process.

The decision follows a filing from 35 former federal judges urging the case to be reopened to investigate whether the settlement, designed to end the lawsuit quickly, was based on deceptive practices.

The judges claim the agreement allowed Trump and his associates to receive financial benefits improperly while circumventing constitutional and judicial oversight.

Judge Williams emphasized that attorneys must not file documents for improper purposes, and a lawsuit used solely to force a settlement could qualify as such.

She also questioned the settlement’s legality, noting that an addendum waiving tax claims against Trump and his family was signed only by the acting Attorney General, Todd Blanche, potentially exposing him to legal consequences.The case draws parallels to historical misconduct in government, including Attorney General John Mitchell’s Watergate conviction.

The judge’s actions, supported by bipartisan former judges, reflect a commitment to uphold the rule of law and ensure judicial scrutiny over settlements that may be collusive or fraudulent.