A bipartisan group of 35 retired federal judges has filed a motion in a Florida federal court challenging a controversial settlement involving Donald Trump, his family, and the Department of Justice.According to reporting cited from The Washington Post, the judges argue that the agreement—linked to a $1.

8 billion fund described by critics as a politically motivated “weaponization” or compensation pool—may have been improperly concealed from the court and could constitute fraud or judicial manipulation.

The underlying case stems from a lawsuit originally filed by Trump, his sons, and the Trump Organization against the IRS in January, seeking up to $10 billion in damages over allegations that a former agency consultant leaked their tax information to the press.

The judges’ filing claims that Trump and federal prosecutors failed to disclose a subsequent settlement when requesting dismissal of the case, raising concerns about transparency and judicial integrity.

The retired judges further argue that the arrangement could allow taxpayer funds to be distributed by a commission controlled by the president without proper constitutional or congressional authority.

They also warn that it may provide unlawful private benefits to Trump and his family, including shielding them from potential IRS audits on past returns.U.S.

District Judge Kathleen Williams, who previously questioned whether the parties in the case were truly adversarial, has been asked to reopen the proceedings for further review.Critics of the settlement describe it as an unprecedented and potentially collusive agreement that undermines public trust in the judicial system.

The motion adds new legal pressure to an already contentious dispute involving political influence, taxpayer funds, and allegations of misuse of federal authority.