POLITICS

Trump sues IRS and Treasury seeking $10 billion damages

PUBLISHED Jan 29, 2026, 9:48 PM ET

Read, Watch or Listen

Media Bias Meter

Sources: 9

Center 100%

Sources: 9

Washington — President Donald Trump sued the Internal Revenue Service and Treasury Department Thursday in federal court, seeking $10 billion for alleged failures to prevent a contractor's disclosure of his tax records between 2018 and 2020. Plaintiffs include Donald Trump Jr., Eric Trump and the Trump Organization; the complaint alleges reputational and financial harm and seeks compensatory and punitive damages. Prosecutors say former IRS contractor Charles Edward Littlejohn pleaded guilty and received a five‑year sentence in 2024 after providing records to The New York Times and ProPublica. Agencies did not immediately respond. Based on 6 articles reviewed and supporting research.

By James Porter | JQJO News

Timeline of Events

2018–2020: Charles Littlejohn accessed and gave tax records to media outlets.
2024: Littlejohn pleaded guilty and received a five-year prison sentence.
29 January 2026: A civil complaint was filed in Miami federal court seeking $10 billion.
Plaintiffs include Donald Trump, Donald Trump Jr., Eric Trump and the Trump Organization.
Agencies did not immediately respond; litigation and potential discovery will follow.

Media Bias

Articles Published:: 9
Right Leaning:: 0
Left Leaning:: 0
Neutral:: 9

Who Benefited

If successful, the plaintiffs would receive financial compensation and potential reputational relief; law firms, allied media covering the case, and political supporters could also benefit from heightened visibility and legal precedent related to agency data safeguards.

Who Impacted

The IRS and Treasury Department face legal liability, reputational damage and increased oversight; taxpayers and the public could experience diminished confidence in federal data protections and possible procedural or policy changes.

Media Bias