Jim Jordan Demands Misconduct Probe of Judge in Trump's IRS Case

House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, is calling for an investigation into U.S. Judge Kathleen Williams of the Southern District of Florida, citing allegations of judicial misconduct. The complaint centers on sanctions Williams imposed on attorneys representing former President Donald Trump in a case against the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).

In a letter to the Judicial Conference of the United States, Jordan, joined by Rep. Darrell Issa, R-Calif., chairman of the panel's subcommittee on courts, asserted that there is evidence Williams "abused her judicial authority and violated fundamental tenets of judicial impartiality." The letter specifically references an order that sanctioned plaintiffs' lawyers after the underlying action had been voluntarily dismissed.

Trump, his adult sons Donald Jr. and Eric, and the Trump Organization initiated the lawsuit in early 2026, seeking $10 billion in damages. The suit followed the leak of the president's tax returns to the press by a contractor, Charles Littlejohn, who was later sentenced to five years in federal prison. Trump filed the lawsuit in his personal capacity and voluntarily dismissed it in May. Shortly after the dismissal, the administration announced a settlement agreement, which included $1.776 billion for an "anti-weaponization fund" intended for victims of "lawfare" by the Biden administration. The settlement did not provide compensation to Trump but included a formal apology from the federal government and an agreement to prevent the IRS from auditing Trump or his family.

Williams, however, issued an order in July that accused the plaintiffs of manipulating the courts to achieve the settlement. She referred one of Trump's lawyers, Alejandro Brito, to the Florida bar for potential disciplinary action and barred another lawyer, Daniel Epstein, from practicing within her jurisdiction for at least one year. Jordan and Issa described the timing of Williams' order as "suspect," given that it followed the case's voluntary withdrawal.

Jordan's letter also contended that Williams based her actions on an amicus brief submitted by the left-wing judicial activist group Democracy Defenders Action. The group claimed the brief was filed on behalf of 35 former federal judges and urged Williams to reopen the case, alleging "fraud" by both sides regarding the settlement. Jordan and Issa argued that the "Committee is not aware of Eleventh Circuit precedent applying inherent sanctions authority after a plaintiff has voluntarily dismissed a case based on briefing by partisan nonparties on an unrelated question the court never decided."

"Judge Williams’s conduct risks undermining public confidence in the federal courts," the representatives wrote. "Accordingly, we respectfully ask that the Judicial Conference review this matter, including whether it warrants referral to the Judicial Council of the Eleventh Circuit or other appropriate action, and that you inform the Committee of steps taken no later than 5:00 p.m. on November 5, 2026."

Issa stated that "The rogue federal judges who make up the Trump Resistance in Robes continue to disappoint but never surprise. Judge Williams hasn't only shown her liberal contempt for President Trump — but crossed a bright ethical line by going after his attorneys."

Republicans have frequently accused federal judges of "activist" behavior and of using their courts to obstruct Trump's agenda. The anti-weaponization fund proposal, which has faced bipartisan pushback and has been blocked by other courts, has drawn skepticism from Democrats as well.