MS NOW host Lawrence O’Donnell has derided former President Donald Trump as "the stupidest litigant in history to ever sue himself" following a federal judge's ruling against Trump's lawsuit seeking $1.8 billion in taxpayer funds. U.S. District Court Judge Kathleen Williams ruled Monday that the lawsuit, filed in January, was "improper."
Trump had sued the Internal Revenue Service after a contractor leaked his tax returns during his first term. He later sought to dismiss the suit in exchange for a $1.8 billion fund for individuals claiming they were unfairly targeted by the Department of Justice. The "Anti-Weaponization Fund" was intended to finance claims for Trump supporters, including those involved in the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol riot, who asserted they were victimized by the DOJ under the Biden administration.
Judge Williams, in a 56-page decision, cited Trump's own words from October, where he stated, "I’m sort of suing myself, I don’t know." Williams used this admission as evidence that the suit was filed for an "improper purpose" and recommended sanctions for Trump's legal team.
O'Donnell highlighted that Trump not only admitted to suing himself, an entity effectively under his control, but also did so after the statute of limitations had passed. The judge further bolstered her findings by referencing Supreme Court cases, some authored by Trump appointees, which affirm that every executive branch member operates under the president's direct control.
"Judges have a responsibility to ensure the courts remain open to all to pursue claims in good faith," Williams wrote. "They have an equally important responsibility to ensure courts are not abused for improper purposes." She specifically noted, "Certainly, a court should not be a forum for a party that cynically views a lawsuit as a vehicle to achieve a predetermined outcome: ‘I’m suing myself.’"